CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
A security analyst is using the MITRE ATT&CK framework to map adversarial behaviors. Which THREE of the following are tactics defined by ATT&CK? (Select THREE.)
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
✓
Privilege escalation
Privilege escalation (B) is a valid ATT&CK tactic (TA0004) describing techniques adversaries use to gain higher-level permissions on a system or network, such as exploiting vulnerabilities or abusing elevation control mechanisms. Persistence (C) is a valid tactic (TA0003) covering techniques like scheduled tasks, registry Run keys, or creating accounts that let adversaries maintain their foothold across restarts or credential changes. Exfiltration (D) is a valid tactic (TA0010) describing techniques used to steal data from the target network, such as exfiltration over C2 channel or over alternative protocols. Incident response (A) is not an ATT&CK tactic; it is a defensive workflow, and ATT&CK's tactics are adversary goals, not response phases. Phishing (E) is not a tactic but a technique (T1566) that falls under the Initial Access tactic, so it does not qualify as a tactic itself.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Incident response
Why it's wrong here
Incident response is a defensive workflow, not an adversary tactic; ATT&CK tactics describe adversary goals such as initial access or exfiltration. It is tempting because ATT&CK is used by defenders, and incident response would be the correct answer when mapping defensive courses of action rather than adversary behaviour.
- ✓
Privilege escalation
Why this is correct
Privilege escalation is one of the fourteen enterprise tactics in MITRE ATT&CK, describing the adversary's goal of gaining higher-level permissions. It sits alongside discovery and lateral movement as a tactical category, under which specific techniques such as exploitation for privilege escalation are catalogued.
- ✓
Persistence
Why this is correct
Persistence is a defined MITRE ATT&CK tactic covering techniques that let an adversary maintain foothold across restarts, credential changes or interruptions. It is one of the fourteen enterprise tactics, grouping methods such as scheduled tasks, account creation and boot-level autostart entries.
- ✓
Exfiltration
Why this is correct
Exfiltration is one of the fourteen enterprise tactics in MITRE ATT&CK, describing techniques adversaries use to steal data from a compromised network. It sits at the final stage of the attack lifecycle, satisfying the stem's requirement for a genuine ATT&CK tactic rather than a technique or sub-technique.
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Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is a technique within the initial access tactic, not a tactic itself. It is tempting because ATT&CK entries are commonly referenced by technique name, and phishing would be the correct selection when the question asks for techniques rather than the higher-level tactical goals.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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