The correct classification is an MFA fatigue attack, also known as push-bombing. This behavior is classified as such because the attacker exploits human psychology by bombarding the user with repeated push notifications until the user, overwhelmed or annoyed, inadvertently approves one they did not initiate. It is a social engineering technique that targets user behavior rather than a technical flaw in the MFA system itself. On the CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between technical vulnerabilities and human-factor attacks; a common trap is misclassifying it as a brute-force or credential-stuffing attempt. To remember, think of the attacker’s goal: they are not breaking the MFA—they are breaking the user’s patience. A useful memory tip is “Push until they flinch”—if the user eventually approves a prompt they didn’t start, it’s fatigue, not a system compromise.
CS0-003 Practice Question: MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or confusion.
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 confusion.. 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 evidence source phase, Which evidence source best supports or refutes the detection?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
B is correct because the scenario describes MFA fatigue (also known as push-bombing), where an attacker repeatedly sends MFA push notifications to a user until the user, annoyed or confused, approves one. This is a social engineering technique that exploits human behavior rather than a technical vulnerability in the MFA system itself. The analyst should classify this as an MFA fatigue attack because the user eventually approved a request they did not initiate, which is the hallmark of this attack vector.
Key principle: MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or confusion.
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.
✓
MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack
Why this is correct
Repeated unsolicited prompts that lead to approval are characteristic of MFA fatigue attacks.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Password spraying may precede the prompts, but the repeated push approval tactic is MFA fatigue.
✗
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 technical exploitation (e.g., DNS tunnelling) and social engineering of MFA (e.g., MFA fatigue), so the trap here is that candidates may confuse repeated MFA prompts with a technical attack like password spraying or DNS tunnelling, rather than recognizing it as a user-targeted social engineering tactic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MFA fatigue attacks often target organizations using push-based MFA (e.g., Microsoft Authenticator, Duo Security) where the approval action is a single tap. Attackers may first obtain valid credentials via phishing or credential stuffing, then trigger dozens of push notifications in rapid succession, hoping the user accidentally approves one. Real-world incidents, such as the Uber breach in 2022, used this technique to bypass MFA and gain initial access.
KKey Concepts to Remember
MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or confusion.
Attackers typically have valid credentials before initiating push-bombing.
It relies on repeated, unsolicited MFA push notifications.
The goal is to trick the user into approving an illegitimate login.
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 confusion.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
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 confusion..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack — B is correct because the scenario describes MFA fatigue (also known as push-bombing), where an attacker repeatedly sends MFA push notifications to a user until the user, annoyed or confused, approves one. This is a social engineering technique that exploits human behavior rather than a technical vulnerability in the MFA system itself. The analyst should classify this as an MFA fatigue attack because the user eventually approved a request they did not initiate, which is the hallmark of this attack vector.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Review mFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or confusion., then practise related CS0-003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
MFA fatigue exploits user annoyance or confusion.
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 root-cause analysis phase, Which finding would most directly explain the activity?
medium
A.Password spraying only
B.DNS tunnelling
✓ 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 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.
Variation 2. A user receives repeated MFA prompts and eventually approves one they did not initiate. Which behaviour should the analyst classify this as? In the detection engineering phase, Which detection or tuning approach would reduce noise without losing the signal?
medium
A.DNS tunnelling
B.SSL certificate expiry
✓ C.MFA fatigue or push-bombing attack
D.Password spraying only
Why C: 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 is a social engineering technique that exploits human behavior, not a technical vulnerability. Option C correctly identifies this attack pattern, which is a known tactic in credential-stuffing and account-takeover campaigns.
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Question Discussion
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