The correct answer is a privilege escalation attempt because the sequence of requests reveals a user moving from a low-privilege endpoint, such as /user/profile, directly to a high-privilege endpoint like /admin/config without any intervening authentication or authorization checks. This pattern is a classic indicator of privilege escalation detection from request patterns, as it suggests the user is probing for missing access controls to gain unauthorized higher-level access. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of access control mechanisms and the importance of enforcing authorization at every resource, not just at login. A common trap is to mistake this for a brute-force attack, but the key distinction is the abrupt jump in privilege level rather than repeated failed attempts. Memory tip: think “low to high, no auth in between” — if the request chain skips re-authorization, suspect escalation.
CISSP Security Assessment and Testing Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security assessment and testing. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A privilege escalation attempt
The sequence of requests shows a user accessing a low-privilege resource (e.g., /user/profile) and then immediately requesting a high-privilege resource (e.g., /admin/config) without proper authentication or authorization checks. This pattern indicates an attempt to escalate privileges by exploiting missing access controls, which is a classic privilege escalation attempt.
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.
✗
A session hijacking attempt
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of session token reuse or hijacking.
✗
A successful brute-force attack
Why it's wrong here
Only one login attempt is shown, not multiple failures.
✓
A privilege escalation attempt
Why this is correct
After being denied access to /admin/dashboard, the user immediately obtains access, suggesting elevation of privileges.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A directory traversal attack
Why it's wrong here
The paths are normal; no traversal patterns like '../'.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing a privilege escalation attempt with a session hijacking attempt, as both involve unauthorized access, but privilege escalation focuses on vertical movement within the same session, while session hijacking steals an existing session from another user.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Only one login attempt is shown, not multiple failures.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Privilege escalation exploits often rely on missing role-based access control (RBAC) checks or insecure direct object references (IDOR). In web applications, this can be tested by sending a request to an admin endpoint (e.g., /admin/users) after authenticating as a regular user; if the server does not validate the user's role, the attack succeeds. Real-world examples include the 2019 Capital One breach, where a misconfigured firewall allowed privilege escalation via AWS metadata endpoints.
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 CISSP question in full detail.
Security Assessment and Testing — This question tests Security Assessment and Testing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A privilege escalation attempt — The sequence of requests shows a user accessing a low-privilege resource (e.g., /user/profile) and then immediately requesting a high-privilege resource (e.g., /admin/config) without proper authentication or authorization checks. This pattern indicates an attempt to escalate privileges by exploiting missing access controls, which is a classic privilege escalation attempt.
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.
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Question Discussion
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