The correct answer is MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack. This classification is correct because the attacker exploits human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities, flooding the user’s device with repeated push notifications until the user, out of frustration or habit, approves one they did not initiate. On the CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 exam, this scenario tests your ability to recognize social engineering tactics that bypass multi-factor authentication without compromising the second factor itself. A common trap is confusing this with a brute-force attack on the authentication server, but the key distinction is that the attacker targets the user’s decision-making, not the system’s security controls. Remember the memory tip: “Push fatigue, not password brute” — if the prompts are endless and the user caves, it’s push-bombing, not a credential attack.
CS0-003 Security Operations Practice Question
This CS0-003 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 user receives repeated MFA prompts and eventually approves one they did not initiate. Which behaviour should the analyst classify this as?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack
Repeated MFA prompts that the user eventually approves out of frustration or habit is the hallmark of MFA fatigue (also called push-bombing). The attacker sends a flood of push notifications to the user's device, hoping the user will mistakenly approve one to stop the annoyance. This bypasses the MFA control without needing to compromise the second factor.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Password spraying only
Why it's wrong here
Password spraying may precede the prompts, but the repeated push approval tactic is MFA fatigue.
✓
MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack
Why this is correct
Repeated unsolicited prompts that lead to approval are characteristic of MFA fatigue attacks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
DNS tunnelling
Why it's wrong here
DNS tunnelling exfiltrates data through DNS queries, not MFA prompts.
✗
SSL certificate expiry
Why it's wrong here
Certificate expiry does not trigger repeated user approval prompts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'MFA fatigue' and 'password spraying' — candidates mistakenly choose password spraying because they focus on the repeated attempts, but the key is that the attacker already has the password and is abusing the MFA approval process, not guessing passwords.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a push-bombing attack, the attacker first obtains the user's password (via phishing, credential stuffing, or breach) and then triggers multiple MFA push requests through the identity provider's API (e.g., Microsoft Graph or Okta API). The user's device receives these as simultaneous notifications; if the user approves just one, the attacker's session is authenticated. Real-world incidents like the 2022 Uber breach used this technique after compromising an employee's VPN credentials.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CS0-003 question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack — Repeated MFA prompts that the user eventually approves out of frustration or habit is the hallmark of MFA fatigue (also called push-bombing). The attacker sends a flood of push notifications to the user's device, hoping the user will mistakenly approve one to stop the annoyance. This bypasses the MFA control without needing to compromise the second factor.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user receives repeated MFA prompts and eventually approves one they did not initiate. Which behaviour should the analyst classify this as? In the alert triage phase, Which action gives the analyst the clearest next triage step?
medium
A.DNS tunnelling
B.Password spraying only
✓ C.MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack
D.SSL certificate expiry
Why C: Option C is correct because the scenario describes MFA fatigue (also called push-bombing), where an attacker repeatedly sends MFA push notifications to a user until the user, annoyed or confused, approves one. This exploits the human tendency to accept prompts to stop interruptions, bypassing MFA security. The clearest next triage step is to investigate the source IPs and authentication logs for anomalous patterns and immediately revoke the approved session.
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Question Discussion
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