CS0-003 Security Operations Practice Question
A security engineer is configuring a new SIEM correlation rule to detect lateral movement. Which of the following log sources would provide the most relevant data for detecting pass-the-hash attacks?
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
✓
Authentication logs
Authentication logs (e.g., Windows Security Event ID 4624) contain details about logon types (e.g., Network logon) and account names, which are crucial for detecting pass-the-hash.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Authentication logs
Why this is correct
Authentication logs capture critical event IDs related to logon attempts, such as Windows Event ID 4624 (successful logon) and 4625 (failed logon). Analyzing these logs allows security analysts to detect anomalous authentication patterns, lateral movement, and pass-the-hash (PtH) attacks by identifying unusual logon types (like Type 3 network logons) or mismatched credentials.
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Cloud audit logs
Why it's wrong here
Cloud audit logs, such as AWS CloudTrail or Azure Activity logs, record API calls, resource provisioning, and administrative changes within cloud environments. While valuable for tracking cloud infrastructure modifications, they do not capture local, on-premises operating system authentication events or Active Directory domain controller logon attempts.
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DNS logs
Why it's wrong here
DNS logs record domain name resolution queries and responses, which are essential for identifying command-and-control (C2) communications or data exfiltration attempts. However, they lack any visibility into user credential validation, session establishment, or local authentication mechanisms, making them ineffective for detecting credential-based attacks directly.
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Firewall logs
Why it's wrong here
Firewall logs document network traffic flow, including source and destination IP addresses, ports, protocols, and whether packets were permitted or denied. They do not inspect or record the application-layer authentication payloads or credential exchange details necessary to identify unauthorized logon attempts or lateral movement.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Baseline and Anomaly Detection
Key term
SIEM
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is a system that collects and analyzes log data from across an IT environment to detect and respond to security threats in real time.
Key term
Event
An event is any identifiable occurrence or action in a computer system, network, or application that can be logged, monitored, or analyzed for security or operational purposes.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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