This CAS-004 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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.
A SOC analyst is investigating an alert from the EDR system indicating that a user's workstation made multiple failed login attempts to a sensitive server, followed by a successful login from an unusual IP address. The analyst suspects a brute force attack. Which type of threat hunting methodology is being used?
Hypothesis-driven hunting
The analyst formed a hypothesis based on an alert and is investigating.
TTP-driven hunting
Why wrong: TTP-driven hunting focuses on adversary behaviors, but the approach here is hypothesis-led.
IoC-driven hunting
Why wrong: IoC-driven hunting uses indicators of compromise, not a hypothesis.
Baseline-driven hunting
Why wrong: Baseline-driven compares to normal behavior; not explicitly stated.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Hypothesis-driven hunting
This is hypothesis-driven threat hunting, as the analyst starts with a hypothesis (brute force attack) and then searches for evidence to confirm or deny it based on the alert.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Hypothesis-driven hunting
Why this is correct
The analyst formed a hypothesis based on an alert and is investigating.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
TTP-driven hunting
Why it's wrong here
TTP-driven hunting focuses on adversary behaviors, but the approach here is hypothesis-led.
IoC-driven hunting
Why it's wrong here
IoC-driven hunting uses indicators of compromise, not a hypothesis.
Baseline-driven hunting
Why it's wrong here
Baseline-driven compares to normal behavior; not explicitly stated.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related CAS-004 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: Hypothesis-driven hunting — This is hypothesis-driven threat hunting, as the analyst starts with a hypothesis (brute force attack) and then searches for evidence to confirm or deny it based on the alert.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related CAS-004 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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