easyMultiple Choice
200-201 Practice Question: Refer to the exhibit
Exhibit
Sep 10 12:34:56: %SEC-6-IPACCESSLOGP: list 100 denied tcp 10.0.0.1(1234) -> 192.168.1.1(22), 1 packet Sep 10 12:34:57: %SEC-6-IPACCESSLOGP: list 100 denied tcp 10.0.0.1(1235) -> 192.168.1.1(22), 1 packet Sep 10 12:34:58: %SEC-6-IPACCESSLOGP: list 100 denied tcp 10.0.0.1(1236) -> 192.168.1.1(22), 1 packet
Refer to the exhibit. What type of activity does this log represent?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between a brute force attack (repeated authentication attempts) and a port scan (probing multiple ports), so the trap here is that candidates see multiple connection attempts and mistakenly think it is a port scan rather than recognizing the SSH-specific 'Failed password' messages.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Brute force SSH attack.
The log shows repeated SSH connection attempts with 'Failed password' messages from the same source IP (10.10.0.5) to the same destination IP (10.10.0.3) for user 'admin'. This pattern of multiple failed authentication attempts in a short time window is characteristic of a brute force SSH attack, where an attacker systematically tries different passwords to gain unauthorized access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Man-in-the-middle attack.
Why it's wrong here
A man-in-the-middle requires traffic interception between two parties, typically showing ARP spoofing, certificate anomalies, or duplicated sessions. The exhibit shows repeated connection attempts across many ports from one source, which is reconnaissance, not interception. This label fits logs where a rogue device relays or alters traffic.
- ✗
Denial-of-service (DoS) attack.
Why it's wrong here
A DoS attack floods a target to exhaust resources, producing high-volume traffic to one service or host. The exhibit shows sequential probes across numerous ports, indicating enumeration rather than resource exhaustion. This label fits logs showing sustained packet floods against a single destination.
- ✓
Brute force SSH attack.
Why this is correct
The log shows repeated failed authentication attempts against the SSH service from a single source within a short interval, which is the signature of automated credential guessing. Successful login following many failures confirms a brute force SSH attack rather than normal administrative access.
- ✗
Port scan.
Why it's wrong here
The exhibit shows a single source completing a TCP handshake and then transferring a file to an external host, which is exfiltration, not enumeration. Port scans generate many half-open or rejected connections across ports without payload transfer. This label fits logs listing sequential SYN attempts across a port range.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This 200-201 question is part of Courseiva's 968-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.