Splunk SPLK-2003 Splunk SOAR Certified Automation Developer Exam Exam Practice Test

The correct answer is D because synchronous execution has not been configured. Synchronous execution is a feature that allows you to control the order of execution of playbook blocks. By default, Phantom executes playbook blocks asynchronously, meaning that it does not wait for one block to finish before starting the next one. This can cause problems when you have dependencies between blocks or when you call other playbooks. To enable synchronous execution, you need to use the sync action in the run playbook block and specify the name of the next block to run after the called playbook completes. See Splunk SOAR Documentation for more details.

In Splunk SOAR, playbooks can be executed either synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous execution ensures that a playbook waits for a called playbook to complete before proceeding to the next step. If the second playbook starts executing before the first one completes, it indicates that synchronous execution was not configured for the playbooks. Without synchronous execution, playbooks will execute independently of each other's completion status, leading to potential overlaps in execution. This behavior can be controlled by properly configuring the playbook execution settings to ensure that dependent playbooks complete their tasks in the desired order.

The primary objective of using the I2A2 playbook design methodology in Splunk SOAR is to create playbooks that are simple, reusable, and modular. This design philosophy emphasizes the creation of playbooks that can be easily understood and maintained, encourages the reuse of playbook components in different scenarios, and fosters the development of playbooks that can be modularly connected or used independently as needed.

I2A2 design methodology is a framework for designing playbooks that consists of four components:

•Inputs: The data that is required for the playbook to run, such as artifacts, parameters, or custom fields.

•Interactions: The blocks that allow the playbook to communicate with users or other systems, such as prompts, comments, or emails.

•Actions: The blocks that execute the core logic of the playbook, such as app actions, filters, decisions, or utilities.

•Artifacts: The data that is generated or modified by the playbook, such as new artifacts, container fields, or notes.

The I2A2 design methodology helps you to plan, structure, and test your playbooks in a modular and efficient way. The primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology is to create simple, reusable, modular playbooks that can be easily maintained, shared, and customized. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it states the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology. Option A is incorrect, because creating detailed playbooks is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a possible outcome of following the framework. Option B is incorrect, because creating playbooks that customers will not edit is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a potential risk of not following the framework. Option C is incorrect, because meeting customer requirements using a single playbook is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a challenge that can be overcome by using the framework.

1: Use a playbook design methodology in Administer Splunk SOAR (Cloud).

 The correct answer is A because after a successful POST to a Phantom REST endpoint to create a new object, the result returned is the new object ID. The object ID is a unique identifier for each object in Phantom, such as a container, an artifact, an action, or a playbook. The object ID can be used to retrieve, update, or delete the object using the Phantom REST API. The answer B is incorrect because after a successful POST to a Phantom REST endpoint to create a new object, the result returned is not the new object name, which is a human-readable name for the object. The object name can be used to search for the object using the Phantom web interface. The answer C is incorrect because after a successful POST to a Phantom REST endpoint to create a new object, the result returned is not the full CEF name, which is a standard format for event data. The full CEF name can be used to access the CEF fields of an artifact using the Phantom REST API. The answer D is incorrect because after a successful POST to a Phantom REST endpoint to create a new object, the result returned is not the PostGres UUID, which is a unique identifier for each row in a PostGres database. The PostGres UUID is not exposed to the Phantom REST API. Reference: Splunk SOAR REST API Guide, page 17. When a POST request is made to a Phantom REST endpoint to create a new object, such as an event, artifact, or container, the typical response includes the ID of the newly created object. This ID is a unique identifier that can be used to reference the object within the system for future operations, such as updating, querying, or deleting the object. The response does not usually include the full name or other specific details of the object, as the ID is the most important piece of information needed immediately after creation for reference purposes.

 Upon enabling multi-tenancy in Splunk SOAR, the first step in configuration typically involves setting up the default tenant. This foundational step is critical as it establishes the primary operating environment under which subsequent tenants can be created and managed. The default tenant serves as the template for permissions, settings, and configurations that might be inherited or customized by additional tenants. Proper configuration of the default tenant ensures a stable and consistent framework for multi-tenancy operations, allowing for segregated environments within the same SOAR instance, each tailored to specific operational needs or organizational units.

 The Phantom REST API, often interacted with through the Phantom REST APP, is a powerful tool for automating and integrating Splunk SOAR with other systems. Common uses of the Phantom REST APP include using Django queries to interact with the SOAR database, using curl commands to programmatically create containers and add artifacts to them, and configuring action blocks within playbooks for automated actions. This flexibility allows for a wide range of automation and integration possibilities, enhancing the SOAR platform's capability to respond to security incidents and manage data.

For a container in Splunk SOAR to utilize context-aware actions designed for notable events from Splunk, it is crucial to ensure that the notable event's unique identifier (event_id) is included in the search results pulled into SOAR. Moreover, by adding a Common Event Format (CEF) definition for the event_id field within Phantom, and setting its data type to something that denotes it as a Splunk notable event ID, SOAR can recognize and appropriately handle these identifiers. This setup facilitates the correct mapping and processing of notable event data within SOAR, enabling the execution of context-aware actions that are specifically tailored to the characteristics of Splunk notable events.

To return all artifacts that contain a SHA1 file hash using the Splunk SOAR REST API, the correct query would use the _filter_cef_Shal_contains parameter. This parameter filters the artifacts to only those that contain a value in the SHA1 field within the Common Event Format (CEF) data structure. The contains operator is used to match any artifacts that have a SHA1 hash present1.

References:

• Understanding artifacts - Splunk Documentation

In Splunk SOAR, when a playbook is designed such that more than one Action block is active at the same time, it is referred to as 'Parallel Processing'. This allows for multiple actions to be executed concurrently, which can significantly speed up the execution of a playbook as it does not have to wait for one action to complete before starting another. Parallel processing enables more efficient use of resources and time, particularly in complex playbooks that perform numerous actions.

The correct answer is C because filter blocks can be used to select data for use by other blocks. Filter blocks can filter data from the container, artifacts, or custom lists based on various criteria, such as field name, value, operator, etc. Filter blocks can also join data from multiple sources using the join action. The output of the filter block can be used as input for other blocks, such as decision, format, prompt, etc. See Splunk SOAR Documentation for more details.

Filter blocks within Splunk SOAR playbooks are designed to sift through data and select specific pieces of information based on defined criteria. These blocks are crucial for narrowing down the data that subsequent blocks in a playbook will act upon. By applying filters, a playbook can focus on relevant data, thereby enhancing efficiency and ensuring that actions are taken based on precise, contextually relevant information. This capability is essential for tailoring the playbook's actions to the specific needs of the incident or workflow, enabling more targeted and effective automation strategies. Filters do not directly select blocks for container data access, choose assets by various administrative criteria, or select containers by attributes like severity or status; their primary function is to refine data within the playbook's operational context.

The severity of a container in Splunk Phantom can be set manually or automatically during the ingestion process. In addition to these methods, playbooks can also change the severity of a container. Playbooks are automated workflows that define a series of actions based on certain triggers and conditions. Within a playbook, actions can be defined to adjust the severity level of a container depending on the analysis of the event data, the outcome of actions taken, or other contextual factors. This dynamic adjustment allows for a more accurate and responsive incident prioritization as new information becomes available during the investigation process.

Within Splunk SOAR, containers (which represent incidents, cases, or events) have a lifecycle that is tracked through their status. The default statuses available without any customization are "New", "In Progress", and "Closed". These statuses help in organizing and managing the incident response process, allowing users to easily track the progress of investigations and responses from initial detection through to resolution.

 In Splunk SOAR, it is possible to import external Python libraries, such as the time module, within the scope of a playbook's global code block. The global block allows users to define custom Python code, including imports of standard Python libraries that are included in the Phantom platform's Python environment. This capability enables the extension of playbooks' functionality with additional Python logic, making playbooks more powerful and versatile in their operations.

In Splunk SOAR, roles serve multiple purposes, including granting users permission to access system functionality or restricting access to parts of the system1. Creating a new role is often necessary when there is a need to define a specific set of users who have access to a restricted app. This allows for granular control over who can interact with certain apps, ensuring that only authorized users can use them. While roles can also be used to manage access to labels, reports, and tags, the primary reason for creating a new role is typically related to controlling access to apps and their associated functionalities within the SOAR platform1.

References:

• Splunk SOAR documentation on managing roles and permissions1.

The correct answer is C because the default tenant’s ID is 1. The tenant ID is a unique identifier for each tenant on a multi-tenant Phantom server. The default tenant is the tenant that is created when Phantom is installed and contains all the existing data and assets. The default tenant’s ID is always 1 and cannot be changed. Other tenants have IDs that are assigned sequentially starting from 2. See Splunk SOAR Documentation for more details. In a multi-tenant Splunk SOAR environment, the default tenant is typically assigned an ID of 1. This ID is system-generated and is used to uniquely identify the default tenant within the SOAR database and system configurations. The default tenant serves as the primary operational environment before any additional tenants are configured, and its ID is crucial for database operations, API calls, and internal reference within the SOAR platform. Understanding and correctly using tenant IDs is essential for managing resources, permissions, and data access in a multi-tenant SOAR setup.

DECIDED process is a core component of the SOAR automation engine that handles the execution of playbooks and actions. The DECIDED process can be restarted by restarting the automation service, which can be done from the command line using the service phantom restart command2. Restarting the automation service also restarts the playbook daemon, which is another core component of the SOAR automation engine that handles the loading and unloading of playbooks3. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it restarts both the DECIDED process and the playbook daemon. Option A is incorrect, because restarting the playbook daemon alone does not restart the DECIDED process. Option B is incorrect, because the System Health page does not provide an option to restart the DECIDED process or the automation service. Option C is incorrect, because the Administration > Server Settings page does not provide an option to restart the DECIDED process or the automation service.

In Splunk SOAR, if the DECIDED process, which is responsible for playbook execution, needs to be restarted, this can typically be done by restarting the automation (or phantom) service. This service manages the automation processes, including playbook execution. Restarting it can reset the DECIDED process, resolving issues related to playbook execution or process hangs.

The Phantom API command to create a custom list is phantom.create_list(). This command takes a list name and an optional description as parameters and returns a list ID if successful. The other commands are not valid Phantom API commands. phantom.add_list() is a Python function that can be used in custom code blocks to add data to an existing list.  To create a custom list in Splunk Phantom, the appropriate API command used is phantom.create_list(). This function allows for the creation of a new list that can be used to store data such as IP addresses, file hashes, or any other information that you want to track or reference across multiple playbooks or within different parts of the Phantom platform. The custom list is a flexible data structure that can be leveraged for various use cases within Phantom, including data enrichment, persistent storage of information, and cross-playbook data sharing.

 The correct answer is C because configuring Phantom search to use an external Splunk server allows you to automate Splunk searches within Phantom using the run query action. This action can be used to run any Splunk search command on the external Splunk server and return the results to Phantom. You can also use the format results action to parse the results and use them in other blocks. See Splunk SOAR Documentation for more details.

Configuring Phantom (now known as Splunk SOAR) to use an external Splunk server enhances the automation capabilities within Phantom by allowing the execution of Splunk searches as part of the automation and orchestration processes. This integration facilitates the automation of tasks that involve querying data from Splunk, thereby streamlining security operations and incident response workflows. Splunk SOAR's ability to integrate with over 300 third-party tools, including Splunk, supports a wide range of automatable actions, thus enabling a more efficient and effective security operations center (SOC) by reducing the time to respond to threats and by making repetitive tasks more manageable

https://www.splunk.com/en_us/products/splunk-security-orchestration-and-automation-features.html

The correct answer is A because assets provide location, credentials, and other parameters needed to run actions. Assets are configurations that define how Phantom connects to external systems or devices, such as firewalls, endpoints, or threat intelligence sources. Assets specify the app, the IP address or hostname, the username and password, and any other settings required to run actions on the target system or device. The answer B is incorrect because assets do not provide hostnames, passwords, and other artifacts needed to run actions, which are data objects that can be created or retrieved by playbooks. The answer C is incorrect because assets do not provide Python code, REST API, and other capabilities needed to run actions, which are provided by apps. The answer D is incorrect because assets do not provide firewall, network, and data sources needed to run actions, which are external systems or devices that can be connected to by assets. Reference: Splunk SOAR Admin Guide, page 45. Assets in Splunk Phantom are configurations that contain the necessary information for apps to connect to external systems and services. This information can include IP addresses, domain names, credentials like usernames and passwords, and other necessary parameters such as API keys or tokens. These parameters enable the apps to perform actions like running queries, executing commands, or gathering data. Assets do not provide the actual Python code, REST API capabilities, or network infrastructure; they are the bridge between the apps and the external systems with the configuration data needed for successful communication and action execution

Decision blocks are most useful when selecting one (or zero) possible paths in the playbook. Decision blocks allow the user to define one or more conditions based on action results, artifacts, or custom expressions, and execute the corresponding path if the condition is met. If none of the conditions are met, the playbook execution ends. Decision blocks are not used for processing different data in parallel, evaluating complex, multi-value results or artifacts, or modifying downstream data in one or more paths in the playbook. Decision blocks within Splunk Phantom playbooks are used to control the flow of execution based on certain criteria. They are most useful when you need to select one or potentially no paths for the playbook to follow, based on the evaluation of specified conditions. This is akin to an if-else or switch-case logic in programming where depending on the conditions met, a particular path is chosen for further actions. Decision blocks evaluate the data and direct the playbook to different paths accordingly, making them a fundamental component for creating dynamic and responsive automation workflows.

In Splunk SOAR, when working on a case and analyzing events, items marked as significant evidence are aggregated for review. These evidence items can be collectively viewed on the Investigation page under the Evidence tab. This centralized view allows analysts to easily access and review all marked evidence related to a case, facilitating a streamlined analysis process and ensuring that key information is readily available for investigation and decision-making.

To securely store a compressed version of an email attachment suspected of containing malware for future analysis, the most effective approach within Splunk SOAR is to use the Upload action of the Secure Store app. This app is specifically designed to handle sensitive or potentially dangerous files by securely storing them within the SOAR database, allowing for controlled access and analysis at a later time. This method ensures that the file is not only safely contained but also available for future forensic or investigative purposes without risking exposure to the malware. Options A, B, and C do not provide the same level of security and functionality for handling suspected malware files, making option D the most appropriate choice.

Secure Store app is a SOAR app that allows you to store files securely in the SOAR database. The Secure Store app provides two actions: Upload and Download. The Upload action takes a file as an input and stores it in the SOAR database in a compressed and encrypted format. The Download action takes a file ID as an input and retrieves the file from the SOAR database and decrypts it. The Secure Store app can be used to store files that contain sensitive or malicious data, such as email attachments with suspected malware, for future analysis. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it states the action that will store a compressed, secure version of an email attachment with suspected malware for future analysis. Option A is incorrect, because copying and pasting the attachment into a note will not store the file securely, but rather expose the file content to anyone who can view the note. Option B is incorrect, because adding a link to the file in a new artifact will not store the file securely, but rather create a reference to the file location, which may not be accessible or reliable. Option C is incorrect, because using the Files tab on the Investigation page to upload the attachment will not store the file securely, but rather store the file in the SOAR file system, which may not be encrypted or compressed.

Custom CEF fields can be created with a name and a data type. The name must be unique and the data type must be one of the following: string, int, float, bool, or list. The severity is not a valid option for custom CEF fields. See Creating custom CEF fields for more details. When creating Custom Common Event Format (CEF) fields in Splunk SOAR (formerly Phantom), the essential values you need to specify are the "Name" of the field and the "Data Type." The "Name" is the identifier for the field, while the "Data Type" specifies the kind of data the field will hold, such as string, integer, IP address, etc. This combination allows for the structured and accurate representation of data within SOAR, ensuring that custom fields are compatible with the platform's data processing and analysis mechanisms.

In Splunk Phantom, labels are used to categorize containers and trigger specific automated responses. When a container is created, labels can be assigned to it based on the nature of the event, type of incident, or other criteria. These labels are then matched against playbooks, which have label conditions defined within them. When the conditions are met, the corresponding playbooks are automatically executed. Labels do not directly control service level agreements, default severity, ownership, sensitivity, or app execution permissions.

 The primary system requirement that should be increased with heavy usage of the file vault is the amount of storage. The file vault is a secure repository for storing files on Phantom. The more files are stored, the more storage space is needed. The other options are not directly related to the file vault usage. See [File vault] for more information.

Heavy usage of the file vault in Splunk SOAR necessitates an increase in the amount of storage available. The file vault is used to securely store files associated with cases, such as malware samples, logs, and other artifacts relevant to an investigation. As the volume of files and the size of stored data grow, ensuring sufficient storage capacity becomes critical to maintain performance and ensure that all necessary data is retained for analysis and evidence.

Splunk SOAR (formerly Phantom) does not natively run on Windows servers as it is primarily designed for Linux environments. However, it can be deployed on a Windows server through virtualization. By running the Phantom OVA (Open Virtualization Appliance) as a virtual machine, users can utilize virtualization platforms like VMware or VirtualBox on a Windows server to host the Phantom environment. This approach allows for the deployment of Phantom in a Windows-centric infrastructure by leveraging virtualization technology to encapsulate the Phantom application within a supported Linux environment provided by the OVA.

The error message "an empty parameters list was passed to phantom.act()" typically indicates that the action being called by the playbook does not have the required parameters to execute. This can happen if the playbook expects certain data to be present in the container's artifacts but finds none. Artifacts in Splunk SOAR (Phantom) are data elements associated with a container (such as an event or alert) that playbooks can act upon. If a playbook action is designed to use data from artifacts as parameters and those artifacts are missing or do not contain the expected data, the playbook cannot execute the action properly, leading to this error.

The correct answer is C because creating artifacts using one playbook and collecting those artifacts in another playbook is a best practice for data sharing across playbooks. Artifacts are data objects that are associated with a container and can be used to store information such as IP addresses, URLs, file hashes, etc. Artifacts can be created using the add artifact action in any playbook block and can be collected using the get artifacts action in the filter block. Artifacts can also be used to trigger active playbooks based on their label or type. See Splunk SOAR Documentation for more details.

In the context of Splunk SOAR, one of the best practices for data sharing across playbooks is to create artifacts in one playbook and use another playbook to collect and utilize those artifacts. Artifacts in Splunk SOAR are structured data related to security incidents (containers) that playbooks can act upon. By creating artifacts in one playbook, you can effectively pass data and context to subsequent playbooks, allowing for modular, reusable, and interconnected playbook designs. This approach promotes efficiency, reduces redundancy, and enhances the playbook's ability to handle complex workflows.