SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
A security analyst investigates a suspicious process on a Linux web server that is making outbound connections to an unknown IP address. The analyst wants to confirm which executable file is running and whether it has been modified since installation. Which combination of actions best accomplishes this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is stopping at network evidence such as the established connection, which proves activity but never identifies the executable or whether it was modified.
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
✓
Inspect the process's /proc/<pid>/exe link and compare the file hash against a known-good baseline
Resolving the /proc/<pid>/exe link identifies the exact executable behind the process, and hashing that file against a trusted baseline detects tampering. Used together, these steps confirm both the binary's identity and its integrity, which is what the investigation requires.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Check the process owner with the ps command and confirm it is not root
Why it's wrong here
Knowing the owning user helps assess privilege and impact, yet it does not reveal the binary path or whether the file was tampered with. A non-root process can still be malicious, so this check does not answer either of the analyst's questions about the executable.
- ✓
Inspect the process's /proc/<pid>/exe link and compare the file hash against a known-good baseline
Why this is correct
The /proc/<pid>/exe symbolic link points to the actual executable backing the running process, even if the file was deleted or renamed, so it reveals the true binary. Hashing that file and comparing it to a trusted baseline shows whether the executable has been altered, satisfying both questions.
- ✗
Run netstat to list the established outbound connection
Why it's wrong here
Listing the connection confirms that a socket exists and identifies the remote address, but it says nothing about which executable owns the process or whether that binary was modified. It answers only the network half of the investigation and leaves the file integrity question unresolved.
- ✗
Review the process's open file descriptors in /proc/<pid>/fd
Why it's wrong here
The file descriptor directory shows which files, sockets, and pipes the process currently has open, which can reveal configuration or log files, but it does not identify the executable image or verify its integrity. It is useful context but not the decisive evidence the analyst needs.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.