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 to gain unauthorized access.. 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 alert triage phase, Which action gives the analyst the clearest next triage step?
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 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.
Key principle: MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance to gain unauthorized access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
DNS tunnelling
Why it's wrong here
DNS tunnelling exfiltrates data through DNS queries, not MFA prompts.
✗
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
MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance to gain unauthorized access.
✗
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 credential-based attacks (password spraying) and MFA bypass techniques (push-bombing), trapping candidates who confuse repeated MFA prompts with brute-force login attempts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MFA push-bombing works by leveraging the fact that many MFA implementations (e.g., Microsoft Authenticator, Duo) send push notifications that require only a single tap to approve. Attackers automate these pushes via compromised credentials and scripts, often sending dozens per minute. In real-world attacks, threat actors have used this technique to gain initial access in ransomware campaigns, such as the 2022 Uber breach, where the attacker spammed the user with MFA prompts until they accepted.
KKey Concepts to Remember
MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance to gain unauthorized access.
Attackers typically have valid credentials before initiating MFA push-bombing.
Push-based MFA is particularly susceptible due to its 'approve' button simplicity.
The goal is to trick the user into inadvertently granting 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 to gain unauthorized access.
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.
Review mFA fatigue exploits user annoyance to gain unauthorized access., then practise related CS0-003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance to gain unauthorized access..
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 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.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Review mFA fatigue exploits user annoyance to gain unauthorized access., 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 to gain unauthorized access.
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Question Discussion
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