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. A key principle to apply: mFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or inattention.. 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? In the root-cause analysis phase, Which finding would most directly explain the activity?
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
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 human behavior rather than a technical vulnerability, and is a common initial access vector in credential-stuffing or password-spraying campaigns. The root-cause analysis would directly identify the repeated unsolicited MFA prompts as the mechanism that led to unauthorized approval.
Key principle: MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or inattention.
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.
✗
DNS tunnelling
Why it's wrong here
DNS tunnelling exfiltrates data through DNS queries, not MFA prompts.
✓
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
MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or inattention.
✗
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 a technical attack (like password spraying) and a social-engineering variant (MFA fatigue), trapping candidates who focus only on the credential aspect and ignore the repeated-prompt behavior described in the question.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MFA fatigue attacks leverage the default push-notification timeout and the user's desire to stop interruptions; many MFA implementations (e.g., Microsoft Authenticator, Duo) allow multiple concurrent pushes without rate-limiting. In a real-world scenario, an attacker who already has the user's password (from a prior spray or breach) triggers dozens of pushes in rapid succession, often during off-hours, until the user accidentally approves one, granting the attacker a valid session token.
KKey Concepts to Remember
MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or inattention.
Attackers typically have valid credentials before initiating push-bombing.
The attack relies on repeated, unsolicited MFA push notifications.
User approval, even accidental, grants the attacker access.
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
MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or inattention.
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 — MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or inattention..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack — 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 human behavior rather than a technical vulnerability, and is a common initial access vector in credential-stuffing or password-spraying campaigns. The root-cause analysis would directly identify the repeated unsolicited MFA prompts as the mechanism that led to unauthorized approval.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Review mFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or inattention., then practise related CS0-003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or inattention.
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Question Discussion
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