- A
Brute force attack
Why wrong: A brute force attack typically targets a single username with many password attempts. The logs show many usernames with one password, not one username with many passwords.
- B
Password spraying attack
Correct. Password spraying involves trying a small number of common passwords against many accounts to avoid detection and lockout. The single password used across numerous usernames is the hallmark of this attack.
- C
Credential stuffing attack
Why wrong: Credential stuffing uses known username and password pairs from previous breaches. The logs show the same password for different usernames, not unique compromised credentials.
- D
Dictionary attack
Why wrong: A dictionary attack is a type of brute force that tries multiple passwords from a wordlist against a single username. This scenario uses one password against many usernames, ruling out a dictionary attack.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is a password spraying attack. This is because the attacker used a single common password, 'Spring2024!', against hundreds of different usernames rather than trying many passwords against one account. The technical concept behind password spraying attack detection hinges on recognizing this low-and-slow pattern: by spreading failed attempts across many accounts, the attacker avoids triggering account lockout policies, which typically activate after a few failures on a single user. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish password spraying from brute force or credential stuffing—a common trap is confusing it with a dictionary attack, but remember that spraying uses one password per user, not multiple passwords. For a quick memory tip, think of a garden sprinkler: it sprays one type of water (one password) over many plants (many usernames), rather than drenching one plant with different streams.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. A key principle to apply: password spraying uses one password against many usernames.. 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 security analyst is reviewing authentication logs from a corporate web application. The logs show that over a span of two hours, a single external IP address attempted to log in with 500 different usernames, each using the same password 'Spring2024!'. Only a few of these attempts succeeded. Which type of attack is most likely being observed?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Password spraying attack
This is a password spraying attack because the attacker uses a single common password ('Spring2024!') against many different usernames. This technique avoids account lockout policies that typically trigger after multiple failed attempts on a single account, and the few successful logins indicate valid credentials were found.
Key principle: Password spraying uses one password against many usernames.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Brute force attack
Why it's wrong here
A brute force attack typically targets a single username with many password attempts. The logs show many usernames with one password, not one username with many passwords.
- ✓
Password spraying attack
Why this is correct
Correct. Password spraying involves trying a small number of common passwords against many accounts to avoid detection and lockout. The single password used across numerous usernames is the hallmark of this attack.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Password spraying uses one password against many usernames.
- ✗
Credential stuffing attack
Why it's wrong here
Credential stuffing uses known username and password pairs from previous breaches. The logs show the same password for different usernames, not unique compromised credentials.
- ✗
Dictionary attack
Why it's wrong here
A dictionary attack is a type of brute force that tries multiple passwords from a wordlist against a single username. This scenario uses one password against many usernames, ruling out a dictionary attack.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing password spraying with brute force: candidates see 'same password' and think brute force, but the key distinction is the attacker targets many usernames with one password, not one username with many passwords.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
A brute force attack typically targets a single username with many password attempts. The logs show many usernames with one password, not one username with many passwords.
Scenario analysis trap
A dictionary attack is a type of brute force that tries multiple passwords from a wordlist against a single username. This scenario uses one password against many usernames, ruling out a dictionary attack.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Password spraying exploits the fact that many organizations enforce account lockout after 5-10 failed attempts per user, but do not lock out across multiple users. Attackers often use seasonal or common passwords (e.g., 'Spring2024!') harvested from password dumps or social engineering. In real-world scenarios, this attack is frequently combined with OSINT to identify valid usernames from email formats or LinkedIn.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Password spraying uses one password against many usernames.
- It aims to avoid account lockout policies.
- Often uses common or default passwords.
- More stealthy than traditional brute force attacks.
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
Password spraying uses one password against many usernames.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Password spraying uses one password against many usernames. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review password spraying uses one password against many usernames., then practise related SY0-701 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Password spraying uses one password against many usernames..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Password spraying attack — This is a password spraying attack because the attacker uses a single common password ('Spring2024!') against many different usernames. This technique avoids account lockout policies that typically trigger after multiple failed attempts on a single account, and the few successful logins indicate valid credentials were found.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Review password spraying uses one password against many usernames., then practise related SY0-701 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Password spraying uses one password against many usernames.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
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 security analyst detects a high volume of failed authentication attempts from IP address 203.0.113.1 against a web application. The attempts use different usernames, such as 'admin', 'root', 'test', and several common names. Account lockout policies are configured to lock an account after five failed attempts. Despite this, the analyst sees the attempts continuing over several hours. Which of the following security controls is most likely missing or improperly configured?
medium- A.Increase the account lockout threshold to a lower number
- B.Implement geofencing to block traffic from the attacker's region
- ✓ C.Configure rate limiting per source IP address
- D.Enable detailed failed login attempt logging
Why C: Rate limiting per source IP address is the correct control because it restricts the number of authentication requests from a single IP (203.0.113.1) within a given time window, regardless of the usernames used. Account lockout policies are ineffective here because the attacker is rotating through different usernames (e.g., 'admin', 'root', 'test'), so no single account reaches the five-failed-attempt threshold. By limiting the request rate from the source IP, the analyst can throttle the attacker's brute-force attempts without affecting legitimate users.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
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