CHFI OS and Network Forensics Practice Question
A security analyst investigates a Windows system and finds an event with ID 4625 in the Security log. What does this event indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse Event ID 4625 with 4624 (successful logon) or assume any Security log event with 'logon' in the name indicates success, but CHFI tests the precise numeric ID and its specific meaning.
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
✓
A failed logon attempt
Event ID 4625 in the Windows Security log specifically indicates a failed logon attempt. This event is generated by the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) whenever an authentication attempt fails, regardless of the logon type (interactive, network, service, etc.). The event details include the account name, source IP address, and failure reason code (e.g., 0xC000006D for bad username/password).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A failed logon attempt
Why this is correct
Event ID 4625 is the Windows Security log event that specifically records a failed logon attempt. It is generated whenever an authentication fails, carrying details such as the target account name, source IP address, logon type, and a status/error code like 0xC000006A (bad password). Since the question centers on this exact event identifier, the security analyst correctly identifies the event as a failed logon.
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A successful user logon
Why it's wrong here
A successful user logon is a distinct security event that corresponds to Event ID 4624, not 4625. The 4624 event is written only after a user is granted a logon session, indicating success with fields like logon type (interactive, network), authentication package, and the logged-on user's SID. Because 4625 explicitly represents authentication failure, the presence of this ID cannot be interpreted as a successful logon.
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A service was installed
Why it's wrong here
Event ID 7045 is a System log entry that denotes the installation of a new service on the Windows host, including the service name, binary image path, and startup type. Unlike 4625, which lives in the Security log and tracks authentication attempts, 7045 is a system-level configuration event and has no relation to logons or failed credentials. Therefore, the 4625 event cannot represent a service installation.
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A new user account was created
Why it's wrong here
A new user account being created in Active Directory or on the local SAM is logged as Event ID 4720 in the Security log, which belongs to the account management (Audit User Account Management) category. This event records the creator, the created username, and other attributes but does not reflect any authentication attempt. Since 4625 is an authentication failure event, it is not consistent with account creation activity.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CHFI practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CHFI exam.