CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
A security operations center (SOC) analyst is investigating a potential malware infection on a workstation. The analyst wants to perform static analysis on a suspicious executable. Which tool or technique is most appropriate for examining the executable without executing it?
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
✓
Use the strings command to extract readable ASCII and Unicode strings
Static analysis involves examining the file without running it. Using a disassembler like IDA Pro or a tool to view strings and PE headers is typical. Strings utility extracts readable text from the binary, which can reveal clues about its functionality.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Run the executable in a sandbox
Why it's wrong here
Running in a sandbox is dynamic analysis, not static.
- ✗
Use a memory forensics tool like Volatility
Why it's wrong here
Volatility is for memory analysis (dynamic), not static analysis of a file on disk.
- ✓
Use the strings command to extract readable ASCII and Unicode strings
Why this is correct
Strings is a common static analysis tool for extracting embedded text from binaries.
- ✗
Perform a network traffic capture
Why it's wrong here
Network traffic capture is part of dynamic analysis or monitoring, not static analysis.
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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.