The correct answer is a brute-force attack because the exhibit shows multiple failed authentication attempts with different passwords for the same username in rapid succession, which is the hallmark of systematic password guessing. In authentication logs, a high frequency of “Failed password” entries for a single account indicates an attacker is cycling through potential credentials, directly targeting weak password policies. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Access Controls and how to detect brute-force attacks by analyzing log patterns—a common trap is confusing this with a dictionary attack, but brute-force attacks typically try all possible combinations rather than a precompiled word list. A useful memory tip: think “many tries, one user” for brute-force, versus “one try, many users” for credential stuffing.
ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of access controls concepts. 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.
```
Mar 15 08:45:23 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 22
Mar 15 08:45:26 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 22
Mar 15 08:45:29 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 22
Mar 15 08:45:32 server sshd[1234]: Accepted password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 22
```
The exhibit shows recent authentication logs. What type of attack is most likely indicated?
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.
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Mar 15 08:45:23 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 22
Mar 15 08:45:26 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 22
Mar 15 08:45:29 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 22
Mar 15 08:45:32 server sshd[1234]: Accepted password for admin from 192.168.1.100 port 22
```
A
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why wrong: No evidence of interception.
B
Brute-force attack
Rapid failed logins then success suggests password guessing.
C
Phishing attack
Why wrong: Phishing does not produce SSH failures.
D
Privilege escalation
Why wrong: Log shows authentication, not privilege change.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Brute-force attack
The exhibit shows repeated authentication attempts with different passwords for the same username, which is the hallmark of a brute-force attack. In authentication logs, a high frequency of failed login attempts (e.g., multiple 'Failed password' entries in quick succession) indicates an attacker systematically guessing credentials. This aligns with the CC domain of Access Controls, where brute-force attacks target weak password policies.
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.
✗
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of interception.
✓
Brute-force attack
Why this is correct
Rapid failed logins then success suggests password guessing.
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.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between brute-force and dictionary attacks; the trap here is that candidates may confuse repeated login attempts with a phishing attack, but phishing requires user interaction (e.g., clicking a link), whereas brute-force is automated against the authentication service.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Log shows authentication, not privilege change.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Brute-force attacks often leverage tools like Hydra or Medusa to automate login attempts against services such as SSH (port 22) or web login forms. Under the hood, each failed attempt increments a counter in logs like /var/log/auth.log (on Linux) or Windows Security Event ID 4625. A real-world scenario is an attacker targeting a VPNgateway with a dictionary of common passwords, which can be mitigated by account lockout policies or rate-limiting (e.g., fail2ban).
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
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Access Controls Concepts — This question tests Access Controls Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Brute-force attack — The exhibit shows repeated authentication attempts with different passwords for the same username, which is the hallmark of a brute-force attack. In authentication logs, a high frequency of failed login attempts (e.g., multiple 'Failed password' entries in quick succession) indicates an attacker systematically guessing credentials. This aligns with the CC domain of Access Controls, where brute-force attacks target weak password policies.
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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