- A
The process is probably a hidden or injected process; run 'psxview' and 'malfind' to detect anomalies
'psxview' cross-references with other sources to find hidden processes; 'malfind' searches for injected code.
- B
The process is a child of the System process, indicating it is a legitimate system process; no further action needed
Why wrong: System process (PID 4) rarely spawns user processes; this is suspicious.
- C
The process is a child of the System Idle Process, which is normal; ignore it
Why wrong: System Idle Process has PID 0, not 4. PID 4 is System, not System Idle Process.
- D
The process has been injected into the System process and is likely a rootkit; run 'psscan' to verify
Why wrong: PPID 4 means the parent is System, not that the process is injected into System. 'psscan' can help identify hidden processes.
Quick Answer
The answer is that a PPID of 4 indicates the parent process is the System process (PID 4), which is highly abnormal for a user-mode executable like 'expl0rer.exe'. In Windows memory forensics, legitimate child processes of PID 4 are typically kernel-mode system threads, not interactive applications; seeing a suspicious process with PPID 4 strongly suggests process hollowing or code injection, where an attacker has replaced the legitimate process memory while keeping the parent relationship intact. On the CHFI exam, this scenario tests your ability to recognize process tree anomalies and apply Volatility’s pslist output to detect hidden or injected processes—a common trap is mistaking PPID 4 for a normal system service. The examiner should immediately run psxview to cross-reference the process across multiple scan methods and malfind to detect injected code regions, then dump the process for deeper analysis. Memory tip: remember that PPID 4 equals “System parent, suspect injection”—if it’s not a system thread, it’s likely a threat.
CHFI Storage Forensics and File System Analysis Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of storage forensics and file system analysis. 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.
During a memory forensics analysis using Volatility, an examiner runs 'python vol.py -f memory.dmp pslist' and sees a suspicious process named 'expl0rer.exe' with a PPID of 4. What does a PPID of 4 indicate, and what should the examiner do next?
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
The process is probably a hidden or injected process; run 'psxview' and 'malfind' to detect anomalies
PPID 4 is the System process (PID 4) in Windows. Legitimate processes should not have System as parent; this suggests process hollowing or injection. The examiner should investigate the process further with process dump and memory analysis.
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.
- ✓
The process is probably a hidden or injected process; run 'psxview' and 'malfind' to detect anomalies
Why this is correct
'psxview' cross-references with other sources to find hidden processes; 'malfind' searches for injected code.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The process is a child of the System process, indicating it is a legitimate system process; no further action needed
Why it's wrong here
System process (PID 4) rarely spawns user processes; this is suspicious.
- ✗
The process is a child of the System Idle Process, which is normal; ignore it
Why it's wrong here
System Idle Process has PID 0, not 4. PID 4 is System, not System Idle Process.
- ✗
The process has been injected into the System process and is likely a rootkit; run 'psscan' to verify
Why it's wrong here
PPID 4 means the parent is System, not that the process is injected into System. 'psscan' can help identify hidden processes.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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 CHFI exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CHFI question test?
Storage Forensics and File System Analysis — This question tests Storage Forensics and File System Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The process is probably a hidden or injected process; run 'psxview' and 'malfind' to detect anomalies — PPID 4 is the System process (PID 4) in Windows. Legitimate processes should not have System as parent; this suggests process hollowing or injection. The examiner should investigate the process further with process dump and memory analysis.
What should I do if I get this CHFI question wrong?
Identify which CHFI exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 21, 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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