- A
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
Worm, because the host is making outbound connections to a remote system.
Why wrong: 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
Spyware, because the host is communicating with an external IP address.
Why wrong: 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
Rootkit, because the system tools are being hidden from the user.
Why wrong: 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.
Quick Answer
The answer is a fileless attack, because the malicious activity lives entirely in memory and uses built-in system tools. This scenario is a classic example of fileless malware, where encoded PowerShell commands are launched by mshta.exe without writing any new executable to disk, allowing the attack to evade traditional antivirus scans that rely on file signatures. The periodic outbound connections to the same IP indicate command-and-control (C2) communication, not self-propagation or data theft. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish fileless attacks from other malware types like worms or trojans; a common trap is assuming a new executable must be present, but the key is that legitimate tools like PowerShell and mshta are weaponized in memory. Remember the memory tip: “No file, no disk—just memory and built-in tools for the win.”
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 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?
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
Fileless attack, because the malicious activity lives in memory and uses built-in tools.
The scenario describes encoded PowerShell commands executed by mshta.exe without writing a new executable to disk, which is a classic fileless attack technique. Fileless malware operates entirely in memory, leveraging legitimate system tools (like PowerShell and mshta) to evade traditional antivirus detection, and the outbound connections are for command-and-control (C2) communication, not for self-propagation or data theft.
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.
- ✓
Fileless attack, because the malicious activity lives in memory and uses built-in tools.
Why this is correct
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.
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.
- ✗
Worm, because the host is making outbound connections to a remote system.
Why it's wrong here
Outbound connections alone do not indicate a worm. Worms are primarily characterized by self-replication and spread, which is not shown by these logs.
- ✗
Spyware, because the host is communicating with an external IP address.
Why it's wrong here
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.
- ✗
Rootkit, because the system tools are being hidden from the user.
Why it's wrong here
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 traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates see 'outbound connections' and immediately think of a worm or spyware, but the key differentiator is the lack of a written executable and the use of built-in tools in memory, which defines a fileless attack.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Outbound connections alone do not indicate a worm. Worms are primarily characterized by self-replication and spread, which is not shown by these logs.
Scenario analysis trap
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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Mshta.exe is a legitimate Microsoft binary used to execute HTML Applications (HTA), but attackers abuse it to run embedded scripts (e.g., VBScript, PowerShell) via the `mshta javascript:` or `mshta vbscript:` URI scheme. The encoded PowerShell command is likely Base64-encoded and executed with `-EncodedCommand`, allowing the payload to run entirely in memory without touching disk, which bypasses signature-based detection and file-scanning antivirus. The periodic outbound connections indicate a beaconing pattern typical of C2 traffic, often over HTTP/HTTPS to a hardcoded IP, and the absence of a written executable confirms the fileless nature.
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.
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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: Fileless attack, because the malicious activity lives in memory and uses built-in tools. — The scenario describes encoded PowerShell commands executed by mshta.exe without writing a new executable to disk, which is a classic fileless attack technique. Fileless malware operates entirely in memory, leveraging legitimate system tools (like PowerShell and mshta) to evade traditional antivirus detection, and the outbound connections are for command-and-control (C2) communication, not for self-propagation or data theft.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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