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NSE4 · Question #259

When the SSL proxy inspects the server certificate for Web Filtering only in SSL Handshake mode, which certificate field is being used to determine the site rating?

The correct answer is A. Common Name. When the SSL proxy performs web filtering in SSL Handshake mode, it uses the Common Name (CN) field from the server certificate to identify the website for rating.

Submitted by chiamaka_o· Apr 18, 2026Security Profiles and Content Inspection

Question

When the SSL proxy inspects the server certificate for Web Filtering only in SSL Handshake mode, which certificate field is being used to determine the site rating?

Options

  • ACommon Name
  • BOrganization
  • COrganizational Unit
  • DSerial Number
  • EValidity

How the community answered

(36 responses)
  • A
    86% (31)
  • B
    6% (2)
  • C
    6% (2)
  • E
    3% (1)

Why each option

When the SSL proxy performs web filtering in SSL Handshake mode, it uses the Common Name (CN) field from the server certificate to identify the website for rating.

ACommon NameCorrect

When a FortiGate performs SSL inspection in SSL Handshake mode for web filtering, it inspects the server's certificate during the TLS handshake. The Common Name (CN) field (or Subject Alternative Name - SAN) within the certificate is primarily used to identify the domain name of the website, which is then queried against the web filtering database to determine its category and rating.

BOrganization

The Organization field specifies the legal entity owning the certificate, not the domain name of the website for content rating.

COrganizational Unit

The Organizational Unit field specifies a division within the organization, which is not used for website content categorization.

DSerial Number

The Serial Number is a unique identifier for the certificate itself, not used to determine the website's content rating.

EValidity

The Validity period indicates when the certificate is active, which is not used for determining the website's content rating.

Concept tested: FortiGate SSL inspection Web Filtering CN usage

Source: https://community.fortinet.com/t5/FortiGate/Technical-Tip-How-FortiGate-Web-Filter-works-with-HTTPS-traffic/ta-p/192257

Topics

#SSL Inspection#Web Filtering#Server Certificates#Common Name

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