HPE6-A78 Questions and Answers

ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) can receive detailed information about client device type, OS, and status from ClearPass OnGuard. ClearPass OnGuard is part of the ClearPass suite and provides posture assessment and endpoint health checks. It gathers detailed information on the status and security posture of devices trying to connect to the network, such as whether antivirus software is up to date, which operating system is running, and other details that characterize the device's compliance with the network's security policies.

References:

• Aruba ClearPass product documentation that details the capabilities of ClearPass OnGuard.
• Network security resources that describe endpoint health checks and the importance of device posture assessment for access control.

Based on the exhibit showing the firewall rules, the following traffic is permitted:

• Client 1 is allowed to send HTTPS traffic to any destination within the subnet 10.1.10.0/24 because there is a permit rule for the user to access svc-https to that subnet.
• Responses to initiated connections are typically allowed by stateful firewalls; hence, an HTTPS response from 10.1.10.10 to client 1 is expected to be permitted even though it is not explicitly mentioned in the firewall rules (assuming the stateful nature of the firewall).

In the AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) framework, the role of the Network Access Server (NAS) is to act as a gateway that enforces access to network services and sends accounting information to the AAA server. The NAS initially requests authentication information from the user and then passes that information to the AAA server. It also enforces the access policies as provided by the AAA server after authentication and provides accounting data to the AAA server based on user activity.

References:

• Technical literature on AAA protocols which often includes a description of the roles and responsibilities of a Network Access Server.
• Network security resources that discuss the NAS function within the AAA framework.

In the context of the ArubaOS Security Dashboard, if the goal is to find company clients that have connected to devices potentially operated by hackers, you would look for a client that is classified as 'Interfering' (indicating a security threat) while being connected to an 'AP Classification: Rogue'. A rogue AP is one that is not under the control of network administrators and is considered malicious or a security threat. Therefore, the client fitting this description is:

• MAC address: d8:50:e6:f3:70:ab; Client Classification: Interfering; AP Classification: Rogue

EST (Enrollment over Secure Transport) is a protocol designed to streamline the certificate management process. It enables automated and secure enrollment, renewal, and revocation of digital certificates, which significantly reduces the management overhead typically associated with digital certificates. With EST, administrators can more easily manage certificates' lifecycle, ensuring that expired certificates are promptly replaced or renewed without significant manual intervention.

In managing ArubaOS-Switches, the best practice is to disable less secure protocols such as Telnet and use more secure alternatives like SSH (Secure Shell). SSH provides encrypted connections between network devices, which is critical for maintaining the security and integrity of network communications. This guideline is aligned with general security best practices that prioritize the use of protocols with strong, built-in encryption mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data privacy.

When an authentication attempt for a user's Windows domain computer is failing on a WPA3-Enterprise WLAN and the Mobility Controller is receiving Access-Rejects, one place to look for deeper insight is the RADIUS events within the CPPM Event Viewer. ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) logs all RADIUS authentication events, and the Event Viewer would show detailed information about why a particular authentication attempt was rejected. This could include reasons such as incorrect credentials, expired certificates, or policy mismatches. The CPPM Event Viewer is an essential troubleshooting tool within ClearPass to diagnose authentication issues, as indicated in the ClearPass Policy Manager documentation.

The use case for Transport Layer Security (TLS) is to enable a client and a server to establish secure communications for another protocol. TLS is a cryptographic protocol designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. It is widely used for web browsers and other applications that require data to be securely exchanged over a network, such as file transfers, VPN connections, and voice-over-IP (VoIP). TLS operates between the transport layer and the application layer of the Internet Protocol Suite and is used to secure various other protocols like HTTP (resulting in HTTPS), SMTP, IMAP, and more. This protocol ensures privacy and data integrity between two communicating applications. Detailed information about TLS and its use cases can be found in IETF RFC 5246, which outlines the specifications for TLS 1.2, and in subsequent RFCs that define TLS 1.3.

Aruba ClearPass Device Insight offers a significant benefit by providing highly accurate endpoint classification. This feature is particularly useful in complex environments with a wide variety of device types, including IoT devices. Accurate device classification allows network administrators to better understand the nature and behavior of devices on their network, which is crucial for implementing appropriate security policies and ensuring network performance and security.

To ensure secure transmission of log data over the network, particularly when dealing with sensitive or critical information, using TLS (Transport Layer Security) for encrypted communication between network devices and syslog servers is necessary:

• Secure Logging Setup: When configuring an ArubaOS-CX switch to send logs securely to a Syslog server, specifying the server with the TLS option ensures that all transmitted log data is encrypted. Additionally, the switch must have a valid certificate to establish a trusted connection, preventing potential eavesdropping or tampering with the logs in transit.
• Other Options:

The image indicates that there is an issue with the user role assignment, which is key to network access in ArubaOS. If the user role name sent by CPPM doesn't match any of the roles defined in the ArubaOS, then the user will be assigned a default or incorrect role that does not have the necessary permissions, thus leading to the connection errors and lack of Internet access. Ensuring that the role names are consistent between CPPM and ArubaOS can resolve this issue.

Tarpit containment is a method used in ArubaOS Wireless Intrusion Prevention (WIP) to contain rogue APs. It differs from traditional wireless containment in several ways, particularly in how it interacts with clients and manages network resources.

Tarpit containment works by spoofing frames from an AP to confuse a client about its association. It forces the client to associate with a fake channel or BSSID, which is more efficient than rogue containment via repeated de-authorization requests. This method is designed to be less disruptive and more resource-efficient1.

Here’s why the other options are not correct:

• Option A is incorrect because tarpit containment does not involve sending ARP frames over the wired network. It operates wirelessly by creating a fake channel or BSSID.
• Option B is incorrect because tarpit containment does not selectively target authorized clients; it affects all clients connected to the rogue AP.
• Option C is incorrect because tarpit containment does require an RF Protect license to function2.

Therefore, Option D is the correct answer. Tarpit containment is more effective at keeping clients off the network with fewer disassociation frames than traditional wireless containment. It achieves this by forming associations with clients, which leads to a more efficient use of airtime and reduces the chance of negative effects on legitimate network users12.

The ArubaOS firewall is a stateful firewall, meaning that it can track the state of active sessions and can make decisions based on the context of the traffic. This stateful inspection capability allows it to automatically allow return traffic for sessions that it has permitted, thereby enabling seamless two-way communication for authorized users while maintaining the security posture of the network.References:

• ArubaOS firewall documentation.

For a company that wants to deploy an open WLAN for guests with the ease of access and encryption for capable devices, using a captive portal with Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) in transition mode would be suitable. The captive portal allows for a user-friendly login page for authentication without a pre-shared key, and OWE provides encryption to protect user data without the complexities of traditional WPA or WPA2 encryption, which is ideal for guest networks. Transition mode allows devices that support OWE to use it while still allowing older or unsupported devices to connect.References:

• Wi-Fi Alliance recommendations for OWE.
• Best practices for guest Wi-Fi network setup.

Control Plane Security (CPsec) enhances security in the network by protecting management traffic between APs and Mobility Controllers (MCs) from eavesdropping. CPsec ensures that all control and management traffic that transits the network is encrypted, thus preventing potential attackers from gaining access to sensitive management data. It helps in securing the network's control plane, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and privacy of the network operations.References:

• Aruba Networks' CPsec documentation.

Social engineering in the context of network security refers to the techniques used by hackers to manipulate individuals into breaking normal security procedures and best practices to gain unauthorized access to systems, networks, or physical locations, or for financial gain. Hackers use various forms of deception to trick employees into handing over confidential or personal information that can be used for fraudulent purposes. This definition encompasses phishing attacks, pretexting, baiting, and other manipulative techniques designed to exploit human psychology. Unlike other hacking methods that rely on technical means, social engineering targets the human element of security. References to social engineering, its methods, and defense strategies are commonly found in security training manuals, cybersecurity awareness programs, and authoritative resources like those from the SANS Institute or cybersecurity agencies.

Given the error message from the ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) Event Viewer, indicating a RADIUS authentication attempt from an unknown Network Access Device (NAD), you should check that the IP address the Mobility Controller (MC) is using to communicate with CPPM matches the IP address defined for the MC in the CPPM's device inventory. If there is a mismatch in IP addresses, CPPM will not recognize the MC as a known device and will not process the authentication request, leading to the error observed.References:

• ClearPass Policy Manager documentation on device management.

For securing management access to the ArubaOS Web UI of an Aruba Mobility Controller (MC), it is a best practice to install a certificate signed by a Certificate Authority (CA). This ensures that communications between administrators and the MC are secured with trusted encryption, which greatly reduces the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks. Using a CA-signed certificate enhances the trustworthiness of the connection over self-signed certificates, which do not offer the same level of assurance.References:

• ArubaOS documentation on management access security.

The correct approach for capturing packets from a wireless client in a WLAN that uses Tunnel forwarding mode and WPA3-Enterprise, managed by an Aruba Mobility Controller and Campus APs, is to use an Air Monitor (AM). An AM is specifically designed to capture wireless traffic "in the air," which means it listens to the wireless signals transmitted between devices and the access points. This method ensures that the capture includes all the necessary details while maintaining the integrity and security of the data as it is transmitted over the air. Using an Air Monitor helps in analyzing the raw wireless traffic before it gets encrypted or tunneled to the Mobility Controller, providing a clear view of the wireless client's activity and interactions. The information regarding the use of Air Monitors for packet capture in such environments can be found in the Aruba Network's official documentation and configuration guides for WLAN setups and security analysis.

When dealing with a failed 802.1X authentication attempt to a WLAN enforced by Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) where no record of the attempt is seen in ClearPass Access Tracker, a good next troubleshooting step is to check the CPPM Event Viewer. Since you are able to successfully ping from the Mobility Controller to CPPM, this indicates that there is network connectivity between these two devices. The lack of a record in Access Tracker suggests that the issue may not be with the RADIUS/EAP certificate or user credentials, but possibly with the ClearPass service itself or its reception of authentication requests. The Event Viewer can provide detailed logs that might reveal internal errors or misconfigurations within CPPM that could prevent it from processing authentication attempts properly.

Tunneling traffic between an Aruba switch and an Aruba Mobility Controller (MC) allows for the centralized application of firewall policies and deep packet inspection to wired clients. By directing traffic through the MC, network administrators can implement a consistent set of security policies across both wired and wireless segments of the network, enhancing overall network security posture.

Based on the exhibit, which shows the settings on the company's Mobility Controllers (MCs), with 'Control Plane Security' enabled and 'Enable auto cert provisioning' available, new Aruba 335-APs require approval on the MC to become managed. This is commonly done by adding the APs to an authorized AP whitelist, after which they can be automatically provisioned with certificates generated by the MC.

The primary reason for adding a "Log Settings" definition in the ArubaOS Diagnostics > System > Log Settings page is to configure the Syslog server settings for the server to which the Mobility Controller (MC) forwards logs for a particular category and level. This setting enables the MC to send detailed logs to a Syslog server for centralized logging and monitoring, which is essential for troubleshooting, security analysis, and compliance with various policies.References:

• ArubaOS documentation on log management and Syslog configuration.

With ArubaOS-CX switches, the use of ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) as a TACACS+ server for authentication is supported. The privilege levels assigned by CPPM will translate onto the switches, where the "manager" privilege level typically maps to administrative capabilities and the "operator" privilege level maps to more limited capabilities. ArubaOS-CX does support standard TACACS+ privilege levels, so administrators can be assigned appropriately. If the ClearPass policies are correctly configured, they will work for both ArubaOS-Switches and ArubaOS-CX switches. The distinction between the "administrators" and "operators" groups is inherent in the ArubaOS-CX role-based access control, and these default groups need to be appropriately mapped to the TACACS+ privilege levels assigned by CPPM.

An example of a social engineering attack is described in option A, where an email is used to impersonate a bank and deceive users into entering their bank login information on a counterfeit website. Social engineering attacks exploit human psychology rather than technical hacking techniques to gain access to systems, data, or personal information. These attacks often involve tricking people into breaking normal security procedures. The other options describe different types of technical attacks that do not primarily rely on manipulating individuals through deceptive personal interactions.

MAC authentication, also known as MAC-Auth, is a method used to authenticate devices based on their Media Access Control (MAC) address. It is often employed in both wired and wireless networks to grant network access based solely on the MAC address of a device. While MAC-Auth is straightforward and doesn’t require complex configuration, it has significant security limitations primarily because MAC addresses can be easily spoofed. Attackers can change the MAC address of their device to match an authorized one, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the network. This susceptibility to MAC address spoofing makes MAC-Auth a weaker security mechanism compared to more robust authentication methods like 802.1X, which involves mutual authentication and encryption protocols.