Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A VPN concentrator shows that an authentication request from a user was accepted twice, even though the user insists they approved only one login. Packet analysis reveals that the second successful attempt reused the same authentication blob and arrived shortly after the first. Which attack is the best fit?
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
Replay attack, because a captured valid authentication message was resent to gain access again.
Replay attacks work by capturing a legitimate authentication message and submitting it later, often before it expires or is invalidated.
B
Distractor review
ARP poisoning, because the attacker redirected traffic by altering local address resolution.
ARP poisoning changes link-layer mapping on a local network, but it does not explain repeated acceptance of the same authentication blob.
C
Distractor review
Phishing, because the user was tricked into entering credentials on a fake page.
Phishing is a social engineering technique that targets user input, whereas this scenario centers on reuse of captured protocol data.
D
Distractor review
Denial of service, because the attacker is overwhelming the VPN gateway with requests.
The issue is unauthorized access through reuse of a valid message, not service exhaustion or outage.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Replay attack, because a captured valid authentication message was resent to gain access again. — This is a replay attack. The same authentication data was captured and reused successfully, which means the protocol likely lacked strong anti-replay protections such as unique nonces, timestamps, or one-time tokens. The fact that the second attempt used the same blob is the key indicator. Replay attacks are especially dangerous when authentication messages remain valid for even a short period. Why others are wrong: ARP poisoning changes local network routing and would not explain a duplicate VPN authentication message. Phishing is a credential-harvesting tactic, not reuse of a captured auth blob. Denial of service focuses on flooding or exhausting resources, but the scenario shows unauthorized access, not outage.
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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