Pass the CyberArk Defender PAM-DEF Questions and answers with CertsForce

According to the CyberArk Defender PAM documentation1, when Dual Control is enabled, a user must first submit a request in the Password Vault Web Access (PVWA) and receive approval before being able to launch a secure connection via PSM for Windows (previously known as RDP Proxy). This is a security feature that ensures that passwords can only be retrieved after permission or ‘confirmation’ has been granted from an authorized Safe Owner(s). The user must specify the reason for accessing the account, whether they will access it once or multiple times, and the time period during which they will access it. The request is then sent to the authorized Safe Owners, who can either confirm or reject it. The number of confirmations required is defined in the Master Policy. Only after the user receives the required confirmations, they can activate the request and access the account through PSM for Windows. This way, Dual Control adds an additional measure of protection and accountability for accessing sensitive accounts.

The Password Upload utility can be used to create safes, as well as password objects, folders, and platforms. The Password Upload utility works with the CyberArk Password Vault to create password objects from a passwords list and store them in the Vault. This enables you to upload large numbers of passwords automatically and makes the Vault implementation process quicker and more automatic. The Password Upload utility initiates the Vault environment required to store passwords in the safe and start working with them. This includes creating new safes, adding the CPM user as a safe owner, and sharing the safe with the Password Vault Web Access1. References:

1: Password Upload Utility

 To ensure that a user group can connect through the Privileged Session Manager (PSM) without seeing the password, you must grant the Use Accounts and Retrieve Files permissions to the group for the safe. The Use Accounts permission allows users to initiate sessions using accounts without viewing the account details or passwords. The Retrieve Files permission enables users to retrieve files during PSM sessions without having access to the passwords1.

References:

CyberArk Docs - Safe Permissions

 To manage loosely connected devices, which are not always connected to the network, CyberArk uses the Endpoint Privilege Manager (EPM). EPM is capable of rotating credentials of accounts on Windows and macOS devices that are loosely connected to the enterprise network. It operates over the internet and can communicate with the corporate PVWA to retrieve the new password and change it on the device1. References: The information provided is based on general knowledge of CyberArk PAM best practices and the management of loosely connected devices as outlined in CyberArk’s official documentation1.

Vault admins do not need to manually add the auditors’ group to newly created safes, because the auditors’ group is automatically added to every safe in the vault by default. The auditors’ group has the View Audit authorization, which allows its members to view the safe’s activity and run reports. However, vault admins can remove the auditors’ group from specific safes if they want to restrict the access of the auditors. References: Predefined users and groups - CyberArk

 The error message “Error in changepass to user domain\user on domain server(\domain.(winRc=5) Access is denied” suggests that the account attempting to change the password does not have the necessary permissions to do so. This could be due to several reasons, such as the account not being part of the appropriate group with password change privileges, or specific restrictions set on the account that prevent password changes. It’s important to verify the account’s permissions and ensure it has the ability to change its own password within the domain.

References: The conclusion is based on common issues encountered in CyberArk’s Privileged Access Management (PAM) when managing account passwords and the associated error codes. The CyberArk documentation and community discussions provide insights into troubleshooting such errors, where insufficient permissions are a frequent cause

The primary purpose of exclusive accounts is to ensure non-repudiation (individual accountability). Exclusive accounts are accounts that can only be used by one user at a time, and are locked during usage. This means that no other user can access the same account until the current user releases it or the session expires. By using exclusive accounts, the organization can enforce individual accountability and traceability for the actions performed on the target systems. Exclusive accounts also reduce the risk of credential theft and unauthorized access, as the passwords are changed every time they are retrieved by a user1. Exclusive accounts can be configured in the Master Policy under the Password Management section, by enabling the Exclusive Access rule2. References:

1: The Master Policy, One Time Password subsection

2: The Master Policy, Exclusive Access subsection

According to the CyberArk Defender PAM documentation, the Master Policy setting that must be active in order to have an account checked-out by one user for a pre-determined amount of time is Enforce check-in/check-out exclusive access. This setting enables organizations to permit users to check out a ‘one-time’ password and lock it so that no other users can retrieve it at the same time. After the user has used the password, the user checks the password back into the Vault. This ensures exclusive usage of the privileged account, enabling full control and tracking for the password. The duration of the check-out period can be configured in the platform settings for each account. References:

Account check-out and check-in - CyberArk

Master Policy - CyberArk

Retrieve accounts/files: Required

List accounts/files: Required

View audit: Required

Access Safe without confirmation: Not Required

Create Folders: Not Required

Comprehensive Explanation: To allow a group to view recordings in a recording safe, the required authorizations are Retrieve accounts/files, List accounts/files, and View audit. These authorizations enable the group members to access and view the session recordings stored within the safe. The Retrieve accounts/files permission allows users to retrieve files during PSM sessions. The List accounts/files permission enables users to see the list of accounts and files within the safe. The View audit authorization is necessary for users to view the audit records associated with the recordings1.

References:

CyberArk Docs - Monitor Privileged Sessions

 Non-repudiation in the context of CyberArk Master Policy settings refers to the assurance that a user cannot deny the validity of their actions. The settings that ensure non-repudiation are those that enforce accountability and traceability of actions. Enforcing check-in/check-out exclusive access ensures that only one user can access an account at a time, and their actions can be traced back to themEnforcing one-time password access means that passwords are used only once and then changed, which prevents the reuse of credentials and ties actions to specific instances of access12.

References:

CyberArk Docs: Master Policy Rules2

CyberArk Docs: The Master Policy1