Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A SOC analyst sees repeated encoded PowerShell launched by mshta.exe. No new executable is written to disk, but the host makes periodic outbound connections to the same IP. Which malware characteristic is most likely?
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
Fileless attack, because the malicious activity lives in memory and uses built-in tools.
Fileless attacks commonly abuse legitimate system utilities and leave little or no executable on disk. The use of PowerShell and mshta.exe strongly suggests living-off-the-land behavior designed to evade basic file-based detection.
B
Distractor review
Worm, because the host is making outbound connections to a remote system.
Outbound connections alone do not indicate a worm. Worms are primarily characterized by self-replication and spread, which is not shown by these logs.
C
Distractor review
Spyware, because the host is communicating with an external IP address.
Spyware may exfiltrate data, but the key clue here is the absence of a dropped executable and the abuse of trusted tools. That behavior is more characteristic of fileless execution.
D
Distractor review
Rootkit, because the system tools are being hidden from the user.
Rootkits focus on hiding malware presence and system artifacts. This scenario instead shows script-based execution and no disk payload, which better fits fileless compromise.
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
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
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: Fileless attack, because the malicious activity lives in memory and uses built-in tools. — The best answer is fileless attack because the malware is operating through legitimate tools such as PowerShell and mshta.exe instead of dropping a visible executable. That pattern is designed to reduce disk-based detection and can be hard to identify with traditional antivirus alone. The periodic outbound traffic indicates command-and-control behavior, which often accompanies fileless compromise. Why others are wrong: A worm would need evidence of self-spreading to other hosts, not just outbound connections. Spyware can communicate externally, but the question emphasizes script execution through trusted binaries and no file on disk. A rootkit is focused on stealth and concealment at the OS level, which is not the main clue in this telemetry.
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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