hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CRISC Practice Question: A SIEM event shows multiple failed logins…
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. CLI output from SIEM: Event Time: 2024-03-15 08:23:45 UTC Source IP: 203.0.113.5 User: svc-backup Action: Failed login (password) Target: db-admin@company.com Count: 15 (last 5 minutes) Event Time: 2024-03-15 08:24:12 UTC Source IP: 203.0.113.5 User: svc-backup Action: Successful login (password) Target: db-admin@company.com
A SIEM event shows multiple failed logins followed by a successful login for the service account 'svc-backup'. The risk practitioner is evaluating the controls. Which finding is MOST significant?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates focus on the brute force indicator (failed logins) or logging delays, missing that the core risk is the authentication method itself—a password for a service account—which is a fundamental control weakness that enables credential theft and lateral movement.
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
✓
A service account is authenticating with a password rather than a certificate
Service accounts should authenticate using non-replayable methods like certificates or managed service accounts (gMSA) rather than static passwords. A password-based authentication for a privileged service account, especially after a series of failed logins, indicates a high risk of credential compromise and lateral movement, making this the most significant finding from a risk monitoring perspective.
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 service account has excessive database privileges
Why it's wrong here
Not evident from login events.
- ✗
The failed login events were not logged in real time
Why it's wrong here
Events were logged; timestamps show near-real-time.
- ✗
Failed logins indicate a possible brute force attack
Why it's wrong here
Possible but less significant than authentication method.
- ✓
A service account is authenticating with a password rather than a certificate
Why this is correct
Service accounts should use strong, non-password authentication.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CRISC question from scratch — 983 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CRISC 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 CRISC exam.