SEC504 Hacker Tools Techniques Exploits and Incident Handling
The SEC504 Hacker Tools Techniques Exploits and Incident Response Exam provides candidates with hands-on experience identifying vulnerabilities and discovering intrusions, as well as a complete incident handling strategy. The test will help students learn how to design, develop, and run systems that can withstand assaults.
Who should take the exam?
The SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling Exam is suitable for candidates who are responsible to work with the incident handling team. The exam is suitable for candidates working as –
- General security practitioners
- System administrators
- Security architects
Exam Details
The SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling exam consists of multiple-choice questions. The cost of the exam is $7640 USD and is available in English language.
SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling Sample Questions
Eligibility Criterion
There is no eligibility Criterion to take the exam.
| Exam Name | SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling |
| Exam Code | SEC504 |
| Exam Format | Multiple Choice |
| Exam Language | English |
| Exam Fee | $7640 USD |
Scheduling the Exam
Now, let us understand the registration process for the exam and get a clear idea as to how to proceed with the exam.
Registration process
- If you haven’t already registered, go to the SANS website and create an account.
- Select the exam you want to take.
- Complete the credentials form.
- Select the option to submit.
Retake Policy
- The option to purchase a retake will be available for 30 days after your deadline.
- If you do not purchase a retake within the 30 days following your exam deadline but wish to attempt the exam at a later date, you will need to start over by purchasing a new Certification Attempt.
- After 3 failed attempts, your attempt is over and considered unsuccessfully completed. Candidates must wait one year to pursue a new certification attempt in this case.
SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling FAQs
Get all your doubts and queries resolved with SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling FAQs.
SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling Course Outline
The next most important step is to understand the course outline. It introduces you to the exam’s structure and objectives. Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling (SEC504) The exam outline has 6 modules with subtopics that give extra course content. It also acquaints you with the significance of each objective, which serves as the foundation for your chances of success. The greater the weightage, the more questions from that topic are anticipated. As a result, it’s a good idea to plan your study schedule around these areas, keeping the weighted average in mind, and studying them thoroughly in order to obtain a solid Grade certification.
The SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling exam covers the following topics –
Module 1 – Describe Incident Response and Computer Crime Investigations
1.1 Understand Incident Response
- Learn Common incident response mistakes
- Learn about incident goals and milestones
- Overview of Post-incident activities
1.2 Understand Digital Investigations
- Learn to ask and answer the right questions
- Learn the process of pivoting during an investigation
- Learn to take notes and writing reports
- Overview of Artifact and event-based timelines
1.3 Understand Live Examination
- Learn to start, even with less information
- Learn to examine a live environment
- Learn to identify abnormal activity
1.4 Understand Digital Evidence
- Learn digital evidence and process to collect
- Learn the role and elements of a chain of custody
- Learn to collect digital evidence
1.5 Understand Network Investigations
- Learn to analyze packet captures using tcpdump
- Learn to handle Web proxy logs
1.6 Understand Memory Investigations
- Learn investigating memory images using the Volatility framework
1.7 Understand Malware Investigations
- Learn basic approaches for investigating malware
- Learn practices for working with malware
- Learn to monitor the environment using snapshot and continuous recording tools
Module 2 – Describe Recon, Scanning, and Enumeration Attacks
2.1 Understand the MITRE ATT&CK Framework
- Learn the attacker evolution and the network for tool, technique, and practice (TTP) mapping
- Learn to use the MITRE ATT&CK Framework for smarter adversary assessment
- Learn to integrate SEC504 with the MITRE ATT&CK Framework
2.2 Understand Reconnaissance
- Learn about network reveal
- Understand about leaking too much information
- Learn to use certificate transparency for pre-production server identification
- Overview of Domain Name System harvesting
- Learn the process of data gathering from job postings, websites, and government databases
- Overview of identifying publicly compromised accounts
- Overview of FOCA for metadata analysis
- Learn about Aggregate OSINT data collection with SpiderFoot
- Learn to master SHODAN searches for target discovery
2.3 Understand the process of Scanning
- Learn the techniques attackers use to enumerate your networks
- Learn to locate and attack personal and enterprise Wi-Fi
- Learn to identify and exploit proprietary wireless systems
- Learn about port scanning: small and large-scale enumeration tasks
- Learn about quick and effective intel collection from web servers
- Learn about characterizing network targets by OS, service, patch level
- Learn about vulnerability scanning and finding prioritization
2.4 Understand Enumerating Windows Active Directory Targets
- Learn about Windows Active Directory domain enumeration with BloodHound, SharpView
- Learn about windows Command and Control with PowerShell Empire
- Learn about operating system bridging from Linux to Windows targets
- Learn to defend against SMB attacks with sophisticated Windows networking features
- Learn about SMB security features through Windows Server 2019
2.5 Understand Defense Spotlight: DeepBlueCLI
- Learn to use PowerShell to enumerate Windows systems
- Learn about fast and effective Windows event log analysis
- Learn to leverage PowerShell output modifiers for reporting, analysis
- Learn to characterize common Windows scans and attacks against Windows servers
Module 3: Describe Password and Access Attacks
3.1: Understand Password Attacks
- Learn the process to bypass account lockout policies
- Learn to choose a target protocol for password guessing attacks
- Learn the techniques for choosing password lists
- Learn to reuse compromise password lists against your organization
- Learn the techniques for password cracking
- Overview and recommendations for password cracking in your organization
3.2 Understand Defense Spotlight: Log Analysis with Elastic Stack (formerly ELK)
- Lear to establish a lightweight log analysis system with Elasticsearch, Logstack, Beats, and Kibana
- Overview of Linux and UNIX authentication logging data
- Learn to configure Filebeat for simple log ingestion
- Learn to use Kibana to identify password attack events
- Learn to customize Kibana visualization for effective threat hunting
3.3 Overview of Password Hashes
- Overview of Hashing algorithms, processes, and problems
- Learn about Windows hashing function through Windows Server 2019
- Learn about Password hash function strength and quality metrics
- Learn to extract Windows domain password hashes using built-in tools
- Learn how to get password hashes from Windows 10 systems
- Learn to decode UNIX and Linux password hashes
- Learn to mitigate GPU-based cracking: PBKDF2, bcrypt, and script
3.4 Understand Password Cracking Attacks
- John the Ripper: single, wordlist, incremental, and external cracking modes
- Cracking hashes with Hashcat: straight and combinator attacks
- Effective hash computation using mask attacks
- Breaking user password selection weaknesses with Hashcat rules
- Three simple strategies for defeating password cracking
3.5 Understand Defense Spotlight: Domain Password Auditing
- Learn to enumerate Windows domain settings with simple PowerShell one-line scripts
- Learn to characterize systemic behavior in user password selection
- Learn to identify bad password offenders in your organization
- Learn to mitigate password sharing in Windows domains
3.6 Understand Netcat: The Attacker’s Best Friend
- Learn to transfer files, creating backdoors, and shoveling shells
- Learn Netcat relays to obscure the source of an attack
- Learn to replay attacks with Netcat
Module 4: DescribePublic-Facing and Drive-By Attacks
4.1 Understand Using Metasploit for System Compromise
- Learn to use the Metasploit framework for specific attack goals
- Learn to match exploits with reconnaissance data
- Learn to deploy Metasploit Meterpreter Command & Control
- Learn to identify Metasploit exploit artifacts on the system and network
4.2 Understand Drive-By and Watering Hole Attacks
- Learn to examine the browser attack surface
- Learn to identify browser vulnerabilities with JavaScript
- Learn about Code-executing Microsoft Office attacks
- Learn about backdooring legitimate code with attacker payloads
4.3 Understand Defense Spotlight: System Resource Usage Monitor (SRUM)
- Learn to assess attacker activity with Windows 10 app history
- Learn to extract useful data from the protected SRUM database
- Learn to convert raw SRUM data to useful post-exploit analysis
4.4 Understand Web Application Attacks
- Learn about account harvesting for user enumeration
- Overview of command injection attacks for web server remote command injection
- Learn about SQL Injection: Manipulating back-end databases
- Learn about Session Cloning: Grabbing other users’ web sessions
- Learn about Cross-Site Scripting: Manipulating victim browser sessions
4.5 Understand Defense Spotlight: Effective Web Server Log Analysis
- Learn about Elastic Stack (ELK) tools for post-attack log analysis
- Learn to configure Filebeat for web server log consumption
- Learn to use the Kibana Query Language (KQL) to identify custom web attacks
- Learn about hunting for common SQL Injection attack signatures
- Learn to decode obfuscated attack signatures with CyberChef
Module 5 – Evasion and Post-Exploitation Attacks
5.1 Understand Endpoint Security Bypass
- Learn to evade EDR analysis with executable manipulation: ghostwriting
- Learn to manipulate Windows Defender for attack signature disclosure
- Learn to use LOLBAS to evade application whitelisting
- Learn to adapt Metasploit payloads on protected platforms
5.2 Understand Pivoting and Lateral Movement
- Learn to pivot from initial compromise to internal networks
- Learn about Effective port forwarding with Meterpreter payloads
- Learn to leverage compromised hosts for internal network scanning, exploitation
- Learn about Windows netsh and attacker internal network access
5.3 Understand Privileged Insider Network Attacks
- Learn about Leveraging initial access for network attacks
- Learn to deploy packet sniffers, MITM attack tools
- Learn about native packet capture on compromised Windows hosts
- Learn about abusing weak protocols: DNS, HTTP
- Learn about network service impersonation attacks with Flamingo\
- Learn about abusing Windows name resolution for password disclosure
5.4 Understand Covering Tracks
- Learn to maintain access by manipulating compromised hosts
- Learn about editing log files on Linux and Windows systems
- Learn about hiding data in Windows ADS
- Learn about network persistence through hidden Command & Control
5.5 Understand Defense Spotlight: Real Intelligence Threat Analytics (RITA)
- Learn to characterize advanced Command & Control activity over the network
- Learn to capture and processing network data with Zeek
- Learn about Network threat hunting: beacons, long connections, strobes, and DNS analysis
5.6 Understand Post-Exploitation Data Collection
- Learn about Harvesting passwords from compromised Linux hosts
- Overview of Password dumping with Mimikatz and EDR bypass
- Learn about defeating Windows and macOS password managers
- Learn about windows keystroke logging attacks
- Learn about data exfiltration over blended network protocols
5.7 Understand Where To Go From Here
- Learn about techniques for solving the problem of needing time for study
- Learn and understand the Forgetting Curve dilemma
- Learn about the techniques for developing long-term retention from what you have learned
- Learn to build study strategies for certification, applying your knowledge
Module 6: Describe Capture the Flag Event
6.1 Understand Hands-on Analysis
- Learn to exploit user password misuse
- Overview of scanning, reconnaissance analysis
- Learn to use OSINT resources to collect information about a target network
- Learn to match reconnaissance data with public exploits
- Overview of privilege escalation on Linux and Windows systems
- Learn to exploit common Windows Domain vulnerabilitiesPillaging data on compromised systems
- Learn the process of pivoting from initial compromise to internal network access
- Learn to identify attacker artifacts following a network compromise
SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling Preparatory Guide
The SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling test is the first step toward a successful career in the IT sector. You must have a strong willingness to study in order to pass this exam. There are, however, various test materials accessible; you must choose the one that is most suited to your needs. Our Preparatory Guide will help you throughout your journey and appropriately prepare you for the exam.
Step-1 Review the Exam Objectives
To guarantee that nothing is forgotten, the exam objectives should be properly examined. As previously said, reviewing the course outline is essential while studying for any test to verify that everything has been covered. Furthermore, familiarising oneself with the exam objectives assists in topic comprehension. The SEC504 exam covers nine topics: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling.
- Module 1 – Describe Incident Response and Computer Crime Investigations
- Module 2 – Describe Recon, Scanning, and Enumeration Attacks
- Module 4: DescribePublic-Facing and Drive-By Attacks
- Module 5 – Evasion and Post-Exploitation Attacks
- Module 6: Describe Capture the Flag Event
Step-2 Discover your Learning Resources
Study Guide
The SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling Study Guide will provide you complete clarity about the exam questions and how to approach them while preparing you from the scratch.
Reference books
Books are your best friends when it comes to studying because they provide you with unique insights that study guides may not, giving you an advantage over others. You are able to choose any book that best suits your preparation technique. Check to verify if the material is clear and if the book has a large number of practise problems and former exam papers. You can select from a wide range of books and buy them or consult libraries, but always look for books published by reputable and credible domain experts.
Learning Resources
SANS now offers candidates the option of taking Online Training courses from the comfort of their own homes. In our digital age, this is a really practical and productive way to study. Instructor-led training, Live-Web classes, self-paced learning, and other types of e-learning are all examples of e-learning. Both online and offline versions of these resources are accessible.
SANS classroom instruction is delivered by an instructor in an SANS training center. Live web classes are delivered remotely by a live instructor who communicates with students over the internet and phone. Connected live web courses combine the best of both worlds by connecting remote students to a live classroom course at an SANS training center.
Step-3 Join Online Communities
Joining an online community, such as the SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling Discussion Forums, is a good way to determine where you stand in relation to the competitors. You may interact with your opponent while remaining focused here. There are thousands of postings, questions, answers, and comments regarding real-world Wi-Fi settings to read. Having many points of view also makes the material more dynamic and helps you to extend your domain. Furthermore, these organisations will help you remain up to date on the test while also increasing your confidence.
Step-4 Practice tests
You’ll go on to the performance phase once you’ve finished the preparation phase. Because it aids you in discovering your fundamental strengths and flaws, this phase is also known as the self-evaluation phase. They can also help you build confidence and master time management techniques. Furthermore, practice exams are designed in such a way that they simulate the actual exam situation. Take the free SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling practice exam right now!
