This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of host-based analysis. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Aug 10 14:32:17 host1 sshd[2345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 34567 ssh2
Aug 10 14:32:20 host1 sshd[2345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 34568 ssh2
Aug 10 14:32:23 host1 sshd[2345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 34569 ssh2
Aug 10 14:32:26 host1 sshd[2346]: Accepted password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 34570 ssh2
```
Refer to the exhibit. A host-based analyst reviews auth.log. What does the accepted password log entry indicate?
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Aug 10 14:32:17 host1 sshd[2345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 34567 ssh2
Aug 10 14:32:20 host1 sshd[2345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 34568 ssh2
Aug 10 14:32:23 host1 sshd[2345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 34569 ssh2
Aug 10 14:32:26 host1 sshd[2346]: Accepted password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 34570 ssh2
```
A
The root account was successfully compromised
Why wrong: The accepted login is for admin, not root.
B
The system prevented a brute-force attack on the admin account
Why wrong: It succeeded, so attack did not fail.
C
The admin login is legitimate because it was accepted
Why wrong: The context of preceding failures makes it suspicious.
D
The admin account was accessed by an attacker after brute-forcing root
The IP tried root multiple times, then succeeded with admin, likely guessing the password.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The admin account was accessed by an attacker after brute-forcing root
The log entry shows 'Accepted password for admin from 10.10.10.10 port 22 ssh2' followed by 'Failed password for root from 10.10.10.10 port 22 ssh2'. The sequence indicates that the attacker first successfully logged in as 'admin' (accepted password), then attempted to escalate privileges by brute-forcing the 'root' account. Option D correctly identifies that the admin account was accessed by an attacker who then attempted to brute-force root, as evidenced by the failed root attempts after a successful admin login.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The root account was successfully compromised
Why it's wrong here
The accepted login is for admin, not root.
✗
The system prevented a brute-force attack on the admin account
Why it's wrong here
It succeeded, so attack did not fail.
✗
The admin login is legitimate because it was accepted
Why it's wrong here
The context of preceding failures makes it suspicious.
✓
The admin account was accessed by an attacker after brute-forcing root
Why this is correct
The IP tried root multiple times, then succeeded with admin, likely guessing the password.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the trap that 'Accepted password' automatically implies a legitimate user, but in host-based analysis, the context of subsequent failed attempts reveals malicious intent, so candidates must correlate multiple log entries rather than evaluating them in isolation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In SSH authentication logs, 'Accepted password' indicates successful authentication via the SSH protocol (RFC 4252), while 'Failed password' indicates authentication failure. The sequence of events—successful admin login followed by failed root attempts—is a classic indicator of lateral movement or privilege escalation, where an attacker gains initial access with a low-privilege account and then attempts to pivot to a higher-privilege account like root. Real-world scenarios often involve attackers using compromised credentials to access a system and then running password-spraying or brute-force tools against privileged accounts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Host-Based Analysis — This question tests Host-Based Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The admin account was accessed by an attacker after brute-forcing root — The log entry shows 'Accepted password for admin from 10.10.10.10 port 22 ssh2' followed by 'Failed password for root from 10.10.10.10 port 22 ssh2'. The sequence indicates that the attacker first successfully logged in as 'admin' (accepted password), then attempted to escalate privileges by brute-forcing the 'root' account. Option D correctly identifies that the admin account was accessed by an attacker who then attempted to brute-force root, as evidenced by the failed root attempts after a successful admin login.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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