Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

Which element protects HTTP applications from well-known HTTP exploits?

1. Intrusion Prevention and Detection

2. Web Application Firewall

3. Web Proxy

4. Malware Sandboxing

The correct answer is: Web Application Firewall

The Web Application Firewall (WAF) is specifically designed to safeguard HTTP applications from a variety of malicious attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in web applications. It does this by monitoring, filtering, and blocking HTTP traffic to and from a web application based on pre-defined security rules and policies. Web applications are particularly susceptible to a range of well-known exploits, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). A WAF acts as an intermediary between the web application and the user, inspecting incoming requests for malicious content and ensuring that only safe, legitimate traffic reaches the application. This proactive defense mechanism is crucial for maintaining the security and integrity of web applications, which often handle sensitive user data and perform critical functions for businesses. By contrast, the other options serve different purposes. Intrusion Prevention and Detection systems primarily focus on monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities and responding appropriately, while a web proxy mainly acts as an intermediary for requests between clients and the servers to improve performance and enforce access controls, but does not specifically address application-layer vulnerabilities. Malware sandboxing, on the other hand, is a technique used to analyze and contain potential threats in a controlled environment, rather than providing direct protection to web applications from HTTP exploits.