mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Eradication Phase: Stolen Credentials Password Reset
An incident response team discovers that an attacker used stolen credentials to access a database. Which step is MOST critical during the eradication phase?
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.
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the eradication phase with the containment or recovery phase, choosing to patch or restore first, when the immediate priority is to invalidate the attacker's authentication tokens to prevent re-entry.
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
✓
Reset all passwords and revoke certificates.
During the eradication phase, the primary goal is to remove all traces of the attacker's access and prevent immediate re-entry. Since the breach occurred via stolen credentials, resetting all passwords and revoking certificates ensures that the attacker can no longer authenticate using those compromised secrets, directly addressing the root cause of the initial access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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.
- ✗
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.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CISM
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?
medium- A.Conduct a security awareness training.
- B.Block the attacker's IP addresses.
- C.Install additional antivirus software.
- ✓ D.Reset all user passwords.
Why D: Resetting all user passwords (option D) is the correct action during the eradication phase because the attacker used stolen credentials, meaning the compromised accounts remain a backdoor even after the initial threat is contained. Eradication requires removing all traces of the attacker's access, and password reset ensures that stolen hashes or plaintext credentials are no longer valid, preventing re-entry via the same authentication vector. This aligns with NIST SP 800-61 guidance on eliminating attacker footholds by invalidating compromised authentication tokens.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.