- A
Capture a memory dump of the server, then disconnect the network cable, and then image the hard drive.
Memory dump preserves volatile evidence (RAM, processes, network connections) which is critical for identifying the attack vector and malware; subsequent steps isolate and preserve disk evidence.
- B
Disconnect the server from the network and then restore the database from the last clean backup.
Why wrong: Restoring from backup overwrites the current state and may destroy evidence; network disconnect is good but should be preceded by memory acquisition.
- C
Immediately shut down the server to prevent further damage and then create a forensic image of the hard drive.
Why wrong: Shutting down destroys volatile data (memory, network connections) that may contain critical evidence of the attack.
- D
Run a full antivirus scan, then try to restart the application pool to restore service quickly.
Why wrong: Running antivirus modifies the system and may delete malicious files, destroying evidence; restarting the pool may alter the state.
Quick Answer
The correct immediate action is to capture a memory dump of the server, then disconnect the network cable, and then image the hard drive. This sequence is critical because the server is actively compromised—the attacker used anonymous FTP access to gain a foothold, executed a destructive SQL query to drop the users table, and likely left malicious processes running in memory. In digital forensics, volatile data like running processes, network connections, and in-memory malware is lost when the system is powered off, so capturing a memory dump preserves that evidence first. Disconnecting the network cable then stops further data exfiltration or remote control, and imaging the hard drive captures persistent evidence like logs and the SQL query. On the CHFI exam, this scenario tests the first responder’s priority order: preserve volatile data, isolate the system, then acquire non-volatile evidence. A common trap is to immediately pull the plug or run antivirus, which destroys volatile evidence. Remember the mnemonic “M.D.I.”—Memory, Disconnect, Image—to lock in the correct order for compromised server response.
CHFI Incident Response and First Responder Skills Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of incident response and first responder skills. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are a first responder for a medium-sized enterprise. The Help Desk received multiple reports that users cannot access the company's internal web application (app.example.com) hosted on a Windows Server 2019 VM. The server is also running a MySQL database and an FTP service for file transfers. You remote into the server and find that the web server (IIS) is still running, but the application pool is stopped. The event logs show multiple failed logon attempts from an external IP address (198.51.100.23) for the local administrator account around the time the issues started. The FTP service log shows successful anonymous logins from the same IP minutes before the web app failure. The MySQL log shows a query 'DROP TABLE users;' executed at 03:15 AM. The current time is 04:00 AM. What immediate action should you take?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Capture a memory dump of the server, then disconnect the network cable, and then image the hard drive.
Option A is correct because the server is actively compromised — the attacker gained access via anonymous FTP, executed a destructive SQL query, and performed lateral movement. Capturing a memory dump preserves volatile evidence (e.g., running processes, network connections, and in-memory malware), disconnecting the network cable prevents further data exfiltration or remote control, and imaging the hard drive captures persistent evidence. This follows the CHFI first responder priority: preserve volatile data first, then isolate, then acquire non-volatile evidence.
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.
- ✓
Capture a memory dump of the server, then disconnect the network cable, and then image the hard drive.
Why this is correct
Memory dump preserves volatile evidence (RAM, processes, network connections) which is critical for identifying the attack vector and malware; subsequent steps isolate and preserve disk evidence.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disconnect the server from the network and then restore the database from the last clean backup.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring from backup overwrites the current state and may destroy evidence; network disconnect is good but should be preceded by memory acquisition.
- ✗
Immediately shut down the server to prevent further damage and then create a forensic image of the hard drive.
Why it's wrong here
Shutting down destroys volatile data (memory, network connections) that may contain critical evidence of the attack.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan, then try to restart the application pool to restore service quickly.
Why it's wrong here
Running antivirus modifies the system and may delete malicious files, destroying evidence; restarting the pool may alter the state.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the first responder's priority order — candidates mistakenly choose to shut down or restore services first, forgetting that volatile evidence (memory, network connections) is lost on power-off and that isolation must precede any remediation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Windows memory dump via tools like FTK Imager or DumpIt captures the full RAM contents, including active network sockets, decrypted credentials, and injected code. Disconnecting the network cable (not graceful shutdown) ensures the attacker cannot kill processes or wipe logs remotely. The FTP anonymous login (RFC 959) with write permissions likely allowed the attacker to upload a web shell or exploit the IIS application pool, leading to the SQL injection that dropped the users table — a classic attack chain.
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 practitioner preparing for the CHFI exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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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Incident Response and First Responder Skills — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CHFI question test?
Incident Response and First Responder Skills — This question tests Incident Response and First Responder Skills — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Capture a memory dump of the server, then disconnect the network cable, and then image the hard drive. — Option A is correct because the server is actively compromised — the attacker gained access via anonymous FTP, executed a destructive SQL query, and performed lateral movement. Capturing a memory dump preserves volatile evidence (e.g., running processes, network connections, and in-memory malware), disconnecting the network cable prevents further data exfiltration or remote control, and imaging the hard drive captures persistent evidence. This follows the CHFI first responder priority: preserve volatile data first, then isolate, then acquire non-volatile evidence.
What should I do if I get this CHFI 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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
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