This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of cissp exam topics. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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
Oct 15 12:34:56 server1 sshd[12345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:00 server1 sshd[12345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:05 server1 sshd[12345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:10 server1 sshd[12345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:12 server1 sshd[12346]: Connection closed by 192.168.1.100 [preauth]
Oct 15 12:35:15 server1 sshd[12347]: Failed password for admin from 10.0.0.50 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:20 server1 sshd[12347]: Failed password for admin from 10.0.0.50 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:25 server1 sshd[12347]: Accepted publickey for admin from 10.0.0.50 port 22 ssh2: RSA SHA256:abc...
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst reviews the SSH logs. Which statement is true?
Exhibit
Oct 15 12:34:56 server1 sshd[12345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:00 server1 sshd[12345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:05 server1 sshd[12345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:10 server1 sshd[12345]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.100 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:12 server1 sshd[12346]: Connection closed by 192.168.1.100 [preauth]
Oct 15 12:35:15 server1 sshd[12347]: Failed password for admin from 10.0.0.50 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:20 server1 sshd[12347]: Failed password for admin from 10.0.0.50 port 22 ssh2
Oct 15 12:35:25 server1 sshd[12347]: Accepted publickey for admin from 10.0.0.50 port 22 ssh2: RSA SHA256:abc...
A
The connection from 192.168.1.100 was likely a brute force attack that succeeded.
Why wrong: The connection was closed before success; no acceptance logged.
B
The connection from 10.0.0.50 was authenticated using a password.
Why wrong: The log shows 'Accepted publickey', not password.
C
The connection from 10.0.0.50 was authenticated using public key authentication.
The log entry 'Accepted publickey' confirms this.
D
The connection from 192.168.1.100 was successful after multiple failed attempts.
Why wrong: The log shows 'Connection closed' after failed attempts, then a new session from 10.0.0.50.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The connection from 10.0.0.50 was authenticated using public key authentication.
SSH logs indicate the authentication method. A line like 'Accepted publickey for <user> from 10.0.0.50' confirms public key authentication. In contrast, a successful brute force attack would show numerous 'Failed password' entries followed by an 'Accepted password' line. The other options are incorrect because they either misidentify the method or misread the log entries.
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.
✗
The connection from 192.168.1.100 was likely a brute force attack that succeeded.
Why it's wrong here
The connection was closed before success; no acceptance logged.
✗
The connection from 10.0.0.50 was authenticated using a password.
Why it's wrong here
The log shows 'Accepted publickey', not password.
✓
The connection from 10.0.0.50 was authenticated using public key authentication.
Why this is correct
The log entry 'Accepted publickey' confirms this.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The connection from 192.168.1.100 was successful after multiple failed attempts.
Why it's wrong here
The log shows 'Connection closed' after failed attempts, then a new session from 10.0.0.50.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The log shows 'Accepted publickey', not password.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The connection from 10.0.0.50 was authenticated using public key authentication. — SSH logs indicate the authentication method. A line like 'Accepted publickey for <user> from 10.0.0.50' confirms public key authentication. In contrast, a successful brute force attack would show numerous 'Failed password' entries followed by an 'Accepted password' line. The other options are incorrect because they either misidentify the method or misread the log entries.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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