The correct answer is that this alert most likely indicates an attacker is performing an SSL stripping attack, downgrading the connection to SSLv3. This is because the IDS alert shows a protocol downgrade from TLS 1.2 to SSLv3, which is the hallmark of an SSL stripping attack detection scenario; the adversary intercepts the ClientHello message and removes higher-security TLS options, forcing the weaker SSLv3 protocol to exploit known vulnerabilities like POODLE. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this tests your understanding of man-in-the-middle techniques and protocol downgrade attacks, often appearing as a scenario where an IDS flags a sudden shift from a secure to an obsolete protocol. A common trap is mistaking this for a simple misconfiguration rather than an active attack, so remember that any forced downgrade from TLS to SSLv3 is a red flag. Memory tip: “Downgrade equals danger” — if the handshake drops from TLS to SSL, think SSL stripping.
ISC2 CC Network Security Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of network security. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
[IDS Alert Log]
Timestamp: 2024-03-15 10:23:45
Signature: ET POLICY Outgoing SSLv3 Handshake (Possible SSL Stripping)
Source IP: 10.1.1.50
Destination IP: 203.0.113.10
Protocol: TCP
Port: 443
Payload: [Hex dump of ClientHello with version 3.0]
Refer to the exhibit. An IDS generates this alert for traffic from an internal server (10.1.1.50) to an external IP on port 443. The security team investigates and finds that the server is a web application that normally uses TLS 1.2. What does this alert most likely indicate?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
An attacker is performing an SSL stripping attack, downgrading the connection to SSLv3
The alert indicates a downgrade from TLS 1.2 to SSLv3, which is the hallmark of an SSL stripping attack. In this attack, an adversary intercepts the client's TLS handshake request and forces the connection to use the weaker SSLv3 protocol, often by manipulating the ClientHello message to remove TLS options. This allows the attacker to exploit known vulnerabilities in SSLv3, such as POODLE, to decrypt or hijack the session.
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.
✓
An attacker is performing an SSL stripping attack, downgrading the connection to SSLv3
Why this is correct
The alert signature suggests SSL stripping, and the use of SSLv3 is a red flag.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The server is experiencing a buffer overflow attack
Why it's wrong here
No indication of buffer overflow in the alert.
✗
The server's certificate has expired and the client is falling back to SSLv3
Why it's wrong here
Certificate expiration typically causes browser warnings, not a protocol downgrade to SSLv3.
✗
The server has been misconfigured to use SSLv3 instead of TLS
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the alert specifically mentions 'SSL Stripping' as a signature, indicating an attack.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between a server-side misconfiguration (which would cause consistent use of SSLv3) and an active downgrade attack (which shows a change from TLS to SSLv3), tricking candidates into choosing the misconfiguration answer when the evidence points to an attack.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSL stripping attacks exploit the client's willingness to fall back to older protocols during the handshake. The attacker acts as a man-in-the-middle, intercepting the initial ClientHello and responding with a ServerHello that selects SSLv3, even though both endpoints support TLS. This attack is particularly dangerous because SSLv3 is vulnerable to the POODLE attack (CVE-2014-3566), which allows plaintext recovery from encrypted blocks. In real-world scenarios, such downgrades are often detected by intrusion detection systems (IDS) that monitor for protocol version mismatches in the TLS handshake.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: An attacker is performing an SSL stripping attack, downgrading the connection to SSLv3 — The alert indicates a downgrade from TLS 1.2 to SSLv3, which is the hallmark of an SSL stripping attack. In this attack, an adversary intercepts the client's TLS handshake request and forces the connection to use the weaker SSLv3 protocol, often by manipulating the ClientHello message to remove TLS options. This allows the attacker to exploit known vulnerabilities in SSLv3, such as POODLE, to decrypt or hijack the session.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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