CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
A security analyst is reviewing a SIEM alert that indicates a user's credentials were used to log in from two different countries within a span of 10 minutes. This is likely an indicator of what type of attack?
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
✓
Credential theft and reuse
A login from two distant locations in a short time suggests credential theft and reuse, which is characteristic of a credential stuffing or account takeover attack. The attacker likely obtained the credentials and is using them from a different location.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Brute-force attack
Why it's wrong here
Brute-force involves many attempts; here only two successful logins.
- ✗
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
MITM intercepts traffic, not simultaneous logins.
- ✓
Credential theft and reuse
Why this is correct
The attacker is using stolen credentials from a different location.
- ✗
Pass-the-hash attack
Why it's wrong here
Pass-the-hash uses NTLM hashes, but the scenario shows credential use from different IPs.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CAS-005 exam.