CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
During an incident response, the team identifies that an attacker gained initial access via a phishing email containing a malicious macro. The macro downloaded a payload from a remote server. Which phase of the incident response lifecycle is currently being executed when the team identifies the phishing email as the attack vector?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is assuming that identifying the attack vector is part of containment or eradication — but vector identification is squarely in Detection and Analysis, before any containment actions begin.
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
✓
Detection and analysis
Detection and analysis is the phase where the IR team identifies and validates the incident, determines its scope, and identifies the attack vector (e.g., phishing email with malicious macro). Identifying the phishing email as the initial access vector is a classic detection-and-analysis activity, occurring before containment or eradication.
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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Containment, eradication, and recovery
Why it's wrong here
Containment, eradication and recovery addresses limiting spread, removing the payload and restoring systems; identifying the phishing email as the vector is detection and analysis. It is tempting because the malicious macro demands containment, but the team is still determining how access was gained, not yet containing it.
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Preparation
Why it's wrong here
Preparation covers building tools, playbooks and training before an incident; identifying the phishing vector occurs during detection and analysis, after the event. Preparation is tempting because phishing awareness training happens there, but the stem describes active investigation of a live incident, not pre-incident readiness.
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Lessons learned
Why it's wrong here
Lessons learned happens after containment and eradication, reviewing what occurred to improve future response; identifying the attack vector is detection and analysis. It is tempting because the phishing email will eventually feed a lessons-learned review, but that phase follows recovery, not initial vector identification.
- ✓
Detection and analysis
Why this is correct
Identifying the phishing email as the initial access vector is analysis of collected evidence to determine how the intrusion occurred, which falls within detection and analysis. This phase scopes the incident and informs later containment and eradication decisions.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.