- A
Wireshark
Why wrong: Wireshark is for network packet analysis.
- B
EnCase
Why wrong: EnCase is primarily for disk forensics.
- C
Volatility
Volatility is a leading memory forensics tool.
- D
Rekall
Rekall is another memory forensics framework.
- E
FTK Imager
Why wrong: FTK Imager is for disk imaging, not memory analysis.
Question 918 of 1,000
CISSP Security Operations Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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.
A security analyst is examining a memory dump from a compromised workstation. Which TWO tools are commonly used for memory forensics?
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
✓
Volatility
Volatility (C) is a leading open-source memory forensics framework that analyzes RAM dumps to extract running processes, network connections, and kernel objects. It supports multiple operating systems and profiles, making it essential for incident response and malware analysis.
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.
- ✗
Wireshark
Why it's wrong here
Wireshark is for network packet analysis.
- ✗
EnCase
Why it's wrong here
EnCase is primarily for disk forensics.
- ✓
Volatility
Why this is correct
Volatility is a leading memory forensics tool.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Rekall
Why this is correct
Rekall is another memory forensics framework.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
FTK Imager
Why it's wrong here
FTK Imager is for disk imaging, not memory analysis.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse network forensics tools (Wireshark) or disk imaging tools (EnCase, FTK Imager) with memory-specific analysis tools, forgetting that RAM analysis requires specialized frameworks like Volatility or Rekall.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Memory forensics tools like Volatility and Rekall operate by parsing the memory dump's data structures, such as the _EPROCESS block for processes and _TCPT_OBJECT for network connections, using OS-specific profile files. A subtle behavior is that Volatility's 'pslist' command relies on the doubly linked list of active processes, but rootkits can unlink malicious processes from this list, requiring cross-validation with 'psscan' or 'thrdscan' to detect hidden processes. In real-world scenarios, memory analysis can recover encryption keys or decrypted payloads that never touch disk, which disk forensics would miss.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Volatility — Volatility (C) is a leading open-source memory forensics framework that analyzes RAM dumps to extract running processes, network connections, and kernel objects. It supports multiple operating systems and profiles, making it essential for incident response and malware analysis.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CISSP exam.
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