Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security analyst is reviewing authentication logs and observes multiple failed login attempts for a single user account occurring within a short timeframe, followed by a successful login from an IP address located in a country where the user has never traveled. The failed attempts originate from various IP addresses and use different passwords. Which type of attack has most likely occurred?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Brute-force attack
Correct. A brute-force attack is characterized by systematically trying many different passwords against a single account until the correct one is found. The log pattern of multiple failed attempts followed by a success aligns with this method.
B
Distractor review
Credential stuffing
Incorrect. Credential stuffing uses previously leaked username and password pairs from other breaches. It typically shows many failed attempts but often with the same password tried across different accounts, not many different passwords against one account.
C
Distractor review
Password spraying
Incorrect. Password spraying involves using a small number of common passwords against many different accounts to avoid lockout thresholds. The scenario describes many attempts against a single account, which is the opposite of password spraying.
D
Distractor review
Dictionary attack
Incorrect. A dictionary attack uses a list of common words or phrases as password guesses. While it is a type of brute-force, the term 'dictionary attack' implies a specific subset of guesses. The scenario suggests a more exhaustive, non-dictionary-based iteration (e.g., alphanumeric combinations) typical of a general brute-force attack.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
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Question 2
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Question 3
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Question 4
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Question 5
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Question 6
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Brute-force attack — The scenario describes a brute-force attack, which involves repeated, automated attempts to guess a user's password by trying many different passwords against a single account. The success after many attempts indicates that the correct password was eventually guessed. Credential stuffing would use known username/password pairs from previous breaches, not multiple different passwords against a single account. Password spraying involves trying a few common passwords against many accounts, not many attempts against one account. A dictionary attack uses a list of common words or variations, but the key distinction here is the high volume of attempts against a single account aimed at eventual password discovery.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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