Quick Answer
The answer is to reset all passwords and revoke certificates. This is the most critical step during the eradication phase after stolen credentials because it directly removes the attacker’s established access and prevents them from re-authenticating using the compromised secrets, effectively cutting off their foothold in the environment. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this question tests your understanding of the eradication phase within the incident response lifecycle, specifically distinguishing it from containment or recovery—a common trap is confusing a temporary containment action, like disabling an account, with the permanent removal of all compromised authentication tokens. Remember that eradication means eliminating the root cause, not just blocking the symptom. A useful memory tip: think of eradication as “kill the keys”—if credentials are stolen, you must invalidate every key the attacker could hold, not just change the lock on one door.
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. 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.
An incident response team discovers that an attacker used stolen credentials to access a database. Which step is MOST critical during the eradication phase?
Reset all passwords and revoke certificates.
Eliminates attacker's access using stolen credentials.
Implement multi-factor authentication.
Why wrong: Preventive, not eradication.
Patch the database server.
Why wrong: May not address credential compromise.
Restore the database from backup.
Why wrong: Does not remove attacker's access if credentials not reset.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Reset all passwords and revoke certificates.
Option B is correct because resetting passwords and revoking certificates removes the attacker's access. Options A, C, D are either not eradication or less critical.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Reset all passwords and revoke certificates.
Why this is correct
Eliminates attacker's access using stolen credentials.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Implement multi-factor authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Preventive, not eradication.
Patch the database server.
Why it's wrong here
May not address credential compromise.
Restore the database from backup.
Why it's wrong here
Does not remove attacker's access if credentials not reset.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISM NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Incident Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Incident Management practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CISM questions
500 questions across all exam domains
Certified Information Security Manager CISM study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CISM practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CISM questions linked to Information Security Program.
Practise CISM questions linked to Information Security Risk Management.
Practise CISM questions linked to Information Security Governance.
Practise CISM questions linked to Incident Management.
Practise CISM questions linked to CISM fundamentals.
Practise CISM questions linked to CISM scenario.
Practise CISM questions linked to CISM troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: Reset all passwords and revoke certificates. — Option B is correct because resetting passwords and revoking certificates removes the attacker's access. Options A, C, D are either not eradication or less critical.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISM NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. During an incident, the incident response team discovers that the attacker used stolen credentials to access the network. What should the team do during the eradication phase?
mediumWhy D: Option B is correct because resetting compromised passwords removes the attacker's access. Blocking IPs is containment; installing AV and training are good but not immediate eradication.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CISM practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CISM exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.