20+ Cyber Security Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Private IP addresses are used within a local network, while public IP addresses are used to identify a network on the internet.

• Private IP addresses are not unique on the internet and are used within a local network to identify devices.

• Public IP addresses are unique on the internet and are used to identify a network on the internet.

• Private IP addresses are in the range of 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255, and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255.

• Public IP add...read more

Web application VAPT is a process of identifying vulnerabilities, assessing their impact, and providing solutions to secure web applications.

• VAPT stands for Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing

• It involves identifying vulnerabilities in web applications and assessing their impact on the system

• Penetration testing is done to simulate an attack and identify potential security breaches

• The process includes identifying vulnerabilities, prioritizing them, and providing so...read more

When you search for something on the internet, your query is sent to a search engine which then retrieves relevant information from its index of websites.

• User enters a search query into a search engine.

• Search engine uses algorithms to find relevant websites from its index.

• Search results are displayed to the user based on relevance and ranking.

• User can click on search results to access the desired information.

Some tools used in Network Penetration Testing include Nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark, and Burp Suite.

• Nmap - for network discovery and mapping

• Metasploit - for exploiting vulnerabilities

• Wireshark - for analyzing network traffic

• Burp Suite - for web application testing

The most recent vulnerability is the PrintNightmare vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler service.

• The vulnerability allows attackers to remotely execute code with system-level privileges.

• It affects all versions of Windows and has a CVSS score of 8.8.

• Microsoft has released patches for the vulnerability, but some experts suggest disabling the Print Spooler service as a temporary fix.

I am familiar with a variety of cyber security tools including Wireshark, Nmap, Metasploit, and Snort.

• Wireshark

• Nmap

• Metasploit

• Snort

SQL injection is a type of cyber attack where malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field to manipulate a database.

• Allows attackers to access sensitive data or execute unauthorized actions

• Occurs when user input is not properly sanitized

• Can be prevented by using parameterized queries and input validation

• Example: Entering ' OR 1=1;--' into a login form to bypass authentication

Vulnerable ports are those that are commonly targeted by attackers to gain unauthorized access to a system.

• Port 21 (FTP)

• Port 23 (Telnet)

• Port 25 (SMTP)

• Port 80 (HTTP)

• Port 443 (HTTPS)

• Port 3389 (Remote Desktop Protocol)

If the pinging request fails, it could be due to network issues, firewall restrictions, or incorrect IP address.

• Check network connectivity to ensure the target device is reachable

• Verify firewall settings to see if the ping request is being blocked

• Ensure the correct IP address or hostname is being used in the ping command

SQL injection is a type of cyber attack where malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field to manipulate the database.

• SQL injection occurs when an attacker inserts malicious SQL code into a form field or URL parameter.

• The injected SQL code can then be used to access or modify the database, steal data, or perform other malicious actions.

• For example, entering ' OR '1'='1' into a login form could bypass authentication and grant unauthorized access.

• Preventing SQL inj...read more

Kerberos protocol is a network authentication protocol that allows individuals communicating over a non-secure network to prove their identity to one another in a secure manner.

• Developed by MIT in the 1980s

• Uses symmetric key cryptography

• Involves a Key Distribution Center (KDC)

• Prevents eavesdropping and replay attacks

Cyber security refers to the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and sensitive information from unauthorized access, theft, or damage.

• It involves implementing security measures to prevent cyber attacks

• It includes protecting against viruses, malware, and other malicious software

• It also involves educating users on safe online practices

• Examples of cyber security measures include firewalls, encryption, and multi-factor authentication

OWASP Top 10 is a list of the most critical web application security risks.

• Injection

• Broken Authentication and Session Management

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

• Broken Access Control

• Security Misconfiguration

• Insecure Cryptographic Storage

• Insufficient Transport Layer Protection

• Unvalidated and Unsanitized Input

• Insufficient Logging and Monitoring

• Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities

Broken authorization occurs when a user is able to access resources they should not have permission to.

• Improperly configured access control lists

• Weak authentication mechanisms

• Insufficient validation of user input

• Insecure direct object references

TLS (Transport Layer Security) is a protocol that ensures privacy and data integrity between communicating applications.

• TLS encrypts data to ensure confidentiality during transmission.

• It uses cryptographic algorithms to authenticate the parties involved in the communication.

• TLS also provides mechanisms for data integrity to prevent tampering.

• Handshake process involves negotiation of encryption algorithms and exchange of keys.

• Common examples of TLS implementations include HTTP...read more

Three-way handshake is a method used in TCP/IP network to establish a connection between a client and a server.

• Client sends a SYN (synchronize) packet to the server to initiate a connection

• Server responds with a SYN-ACK (synchronize-acknowledgment) packet to acknowledge the request

• Client sends an ACK (acknowledgment) packet back to the server to confirm the connection

The OSI Layers refer to the seven layers of the Open Systems Interconnection model that define the functions of a network protocol stack.

• Layer 1 - Physical Layer: Deals with physical connections and transmission of raw data over a physical medium (e.g. cables, wires)

• Layer 2 - Data Link Layer: Responsible for node-to-node communication, error detection, and flow control (e.g. Ethernet switches)

• Layer 3 - Network Layer: Manages routing of data packets between different networks ...read more

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

• Firewalls can be hardware or software-based

• They act as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external network

• Firewalls can filter traffic based on IP addresses, ports, protocols, and applications

• They can be configured to block or allow specific traffic based on security policies

• Examples of firewalls include Cisco A...read more

OWASP Top 10 is a list of the top 10 most critical web application security risks.

• OWASP Top 10 is updated regularly to reflect current security threats.

• It helps organizations prioritize their security efforts.

• Some examples of OWASP Top 10 risks include injection, broken authentication, and sensitive data exposure.