Cybersecurity-Practitioner SOC Operations Practice Question
A security analyst is investigating an unauthorized modification of user permissions in a Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access environment. When evaluating the breach under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, which specific Tactic best categorizes the attacker's actions to establish higher-level access?
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
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Privilege Escalation
Privilege Escalation (TA0004) consists of techniques that adversaries use to gain higher-level permissions on a system or network, such as modifying roles or permissions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Initial Access
Why it's wrong here
Initial Access covers techniques used to get into a network, not modifying permissions once inside.
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Exfiltration
Why it's wrong here
Exfiltration refers to techniques attackers use to steal data from their target network.
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Privilege Escalation
Why this is correct
Modifying permissions to achieve higher-level access directly maps to the Privilege Escalation tactic.
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Credential Access
Why it's wrong here
Credential Access involves stealing credentials like account names and passwords, rather than modifying permissions.
About these practice questions
One of 206 original Cybersecurity-Practitioner practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This Cybersecurity-Practitioner practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks 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 Cybersecurity-Practitioner exam.