Question 1 of 1,152

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is brute force, as the log pattern of hundreds of failed login attempts from a single external IP address targeting the same username 'jsmith' with different passwords is the classic signature of a brute force attack. This technique relies on systematically guessing many passwords against one account until the correct credential is found, which is exactly what the logs reveal. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish brute force from password spraying—where a few passwords are tried against many usernames—and credential stuffing, which uses breached username-password pairs. A common trap is confusing the high volume of attempts with a distributed attack, but the single-target, single-IP pattern is the giveaway. For brute force attack pattern detection, remember the mnemonic: One User, One IP, Many Passwords = Brute Force.

SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 reviews authentication logs and discovers hundreds of failed login attempts from a single external IP address within a five-minute window. All attempts target the same username 'jsmith' but use different passwords. Which type of password attack does this pattern most likely indicate?

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.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

A
Password spraying
Why wrong: Incorrect. Password spraying attempts a single common password against many usernames to avoid lockouts. This scenario targets one username with many passwords.
B
Brute force
Correct. A brute force attack systematically tries many passwords against a single account. The log pattern of hundreds of different passwords for the same username matches this method.
C
Credential stuffing
Why wrong: Incorrect. Credential stuffing uses stolen username/password pairs from previous breaches to log in automatically. The attempts here show varying passwords, not reused known credentials.
D
Dictionary attack
Why wrong: Incorrect. While a dictionary attack also uses a list of likely passwords, it is a subset of brute force. The broader category 'brute force' is more accurate given the large volume and systematic nature of the attempts.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Brute force

The pattern of hundreds of failed login attempts from a single external IP address targeting the same username 'jsmith' with different passwords is characteristic of a brute force attack. In a brute force attack, the attacker systematically tries many password guesses against a single account to eventually find the correct credential. This contrasts with password spraying, where a few common passwords are tried against many usernames, and credential stuffing, which uses previously compromised username/password pairs from other breaches.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

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
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Password spraying attempts a single common password against many usernames to avoid lockouts. This scenario targets one username with many passwords.
✓
Brute force
Why this is correct
Correct. A brute force attack systematically tries many passwords against a single account. The log pattern of hundreds of different passwords for the same username matches this method.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Credential stuffing
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Credential stuffing uses stolen username/password pairs from previous breaches to log in automatically. The attempts here show varying passwords, not reused known credentials.
✗
Dictionary attack
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While a dictionary attack also uses a list of likely passwords, it is a subset of brute force. The broader category 'brute force' is more accurate given the large volume and systematic nature of the attempts.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is confusing brute force with password spraying: candidates often pick password spraying because they see 'different passwords,' but the key differentiator is the single target username versus multiple usernames, which defines the attack vector.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
Incorrect. Credential stuffing uses stolen username/password pairs from previous breaches to log in automatically. The attempts here show varying passwords, not reused known credentials.
Scenario analysis trap
Incorrect. Password spraying attempts a single common password against many usernames to avoid lockouts. This scenario targets one username with many passwords.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Brute force attacks often leverage automated tools like Hydra or Medusa that can cycle through password lists (e.g., rockyou.txt) at high rates, sometimes exceeding thousands of attempts per minute. Modern systems mitigate this with account lockout policies (e.g., locking after 5 failed attempts within 15 minutes) or rate limiting per source IP, but attackers may bypass these by rotating IP addresses via proxies or using slow, distributed attacks. In this scenario, the single external IP and high frequency suggest a lack of such protections or a targeted attack on a privileged account like 'jsmith'.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

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

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. 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.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SY0-701 question test?

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Brute force — The pattern of hundreds of failed login attempts from a single external IP address targeting the same username 'jsmith' with different passwords is characteristic of a brute force attack. In a brute force attack, the attacker systematically tries many password guesses against a single account to eventually find the correct credential. This contrasts with password spraying, where a few common passwords are tried against many usernames, and credential stuffing, which uses previously compromised username/password pairs from other breaches.

What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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