In Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), packet processing is categorized into thefast path(also known as theaccelerated path) and theslow path(also known asdeep inspection processing). Theslow pathis responsible for handling operations that require deep content inspection and policy enforcement beyond standard Layer 2-4 packet forwarding.
Slow Path Processing and SSL/TLS DecryptionSSL/TLS decryption is performedonly during the slow pathbecause it involves computationally intensive tasks such as:
Intercepting encrypted trafficand performing man-in-the-middle (MITM) decryption.
Extracting the SSL handshakeand certificate details for security inspection.
Inspecting decrypted payloadsfor threats, malicious content, and compliance with security policies.
Re-encrypting the trafficbefore forwarding it to the intended destination.
This process is critical in environments whereencrypted threatscan bypass traditional security inspection mechanisms. However, it significantly impacts firewall performance, making it a slow path action.
(A) Session Lookup– This occurs in thefast pathas part of session establishment before any deeper inspection. It checks whether an incoming packet belongs to an existing session.
(C) Layer 2–Layer 4 Firewall Processing– These arestateless or stateful filtering actions(e.g., access control, NAT, and basic connection tracking), handled in the fast path.
(D) Security Policy Lookup– This is also in thefast path, where the firewall determines whether to allow, deny, or perform further inspection based on the defined security policy rules.
Firewall Deployment– SSL/TLS decryption is part of the firewall’s deep packet inspection and Zero Trust enforcement strategies.
Security Policies– NGFWs use SSL decryption to enforce security policies, ensuring compliance and blocking encrypted threats.
VPN Configurations– SSL VPNs and IPsec VPNs also undergo decryption processing in specific security enforcement zones.
Threat Prevention– Palo Alto’s Threat Prevention engine analyzes decrypted traffic for malware, C2 (Command-and-Control) connections, and exploit attempts.
WildFire– Inspects decrypted traffic for zero-day malware and sandboxing analysis.
Panorama– Provides centralized logging and policy enforcement for SSL decryption events.
Zero Trust Architectures– Decryption is a crucial Zero Trust principle, ensuring encrypted traffic is not blindly trusted.
Other Answer Choices AnalysisReferences and Justification:Thus,SSL/TLS decryption is the correct answeras it is performed exclusively in the slow path of Palo Alto Networks NGFWs.
