The correct interpretation is that this event indicates a failed logon attempt due to account lockout. The event log entry shows a Logon Type 3 (network logon) paired with a Failure Reason of “Account locked out” and a Status code of 0xC0000234, which specifically means the account was disabled after exceeding the threshold for failed password attempts. On the CISSP exam, this tests your ability to distinguish between authentication failures and lockout events—a common trap is confusing a locked account with a simple bad password, but the 0xC0000234 status is unique to lockouts. Remember that Logon Type 3 covers network-based access like SMB or RDP, so this often appears in domain controller logs. A quick memory tip: think of “234” as “2-3-4 lock the door”—the account is locked, not just denied.
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Windows Event Log entry:
Log Name: Security
Event ID: 4625
Account For Which Logon Failed:
Security ID: S-1-5-18
Account Name: SYSTEM
Account Domain: NT AUTHORITY
Failure Information:
Failure Reason: Account locked out.
Sub Status: 0xc0000234
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst reviews this event log entry. What does this event indicate?
Refer to the exhibit.
Windows Event Log entry:
Log Name: Security
Event ID: 4625
Account For Which Logon Failed:
Security ID: S-1-5-18
Account Name: SYSTEM
Account Domain: NT AUTHORITY
Failure Information:
Failure Reason: Account locked out.
Sub Status: 0xc0000234
A
A successful logon by the SYSTEM account
Why wrong: 4625 is failure, not success.
B
A successful logon by a user account
Why wrong: 4625 is failure.
C
An attempted exploit of a privilege escalation vulnerability
Why wrong: No evidence of exploit.
D
A failed logon attempt due to account lockout
Event 4625 indicates failed logon, sub status shows lockout.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A failed logon attempt due to account lockout
The event log entry shows a 'Logon Type 3' (network logon) with a 'Failure Reason' of 'Account locked out' and a 'Status' of 0xC0000234, which specifically indicates the account was locked due to too many failed attempts. This is a failed logon attempt, not a successful one, and the lockout status confirms the account was disabled for security reasons.
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 successful logon by the SYSTEM account
Why it's wrong here
4625 is failure, not success.
✗
A successful logon by a user account
Why it's wrong here
4625 is failure.
✗
An attempted exploit of a privilege escalation vulnerability
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of exploit.
✓
A failed logon attempt due to account lockout
Why this is correct
Event 4625 indicates failed logon, sub status shows lockout.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates see 'Logon Type 3' and assume it is a successful network logon, ignoring the failure status and lockout reason, or they misinterpret the lockout as a privilege escalation attempt.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The status code 0xC0000234 maps to STATUS_ACCOUNT_LOCKED_OUT in Windows security, which is triggered when the account's lockout threshold (e.g., 5 bad passwords) is exceeded. Logon Type 3 indicates a network logon (e.g., SMB, RDP, or NetBIOS), meaning the attempt came over the network, not interactively. In real-world scenarios, attackers often brute-force accounts until lockout, then switch to a different account or wait for the lockout timer to expire.
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 security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
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: A failed logon attempt due to account lockout — The event log entry shows a 'Logon Type 3' (network logon) with a 'Failure Reason' of 'Account locked out' and a 'Status' of 0xC0000234, which specifically indicates the account was locked due to too many failed attempts. This is a failed logon attempt, not a successful one, and the lockout status confirms the account was disabled for security reasons.
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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