easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: A security analyst is reviewing logs and finds…
A security analyst is reviewing logs and finds multiple failed login attempts from an external IP address followed by a successful login. Which type of attack is most likely occurring?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse 'brute force' with 'credential stuffing' because both involve multiple login attempts, but credential stuffing uses known breached credentials (often from different IPs) and shows a higher initial success rate, whereas brute force targets a single account with many guesses from one IP.
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
✓
Brute force attack
A brute force attack involves systematically trying all possible password combinations until the correct one is found. The log pattern of multiple failed attempts from a single external IP followed by a success is the classic signature of a brute force attack, as the attacker iterates through a password list or character space against the same username.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Password spraying
Why it's wrong here
Password spraying uses common passwords across many accounts, not repeated attempts on one.
- ✓
Brute force attack
Why this is correct
Multiple attempts from a single source indicate brute force.
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Credential stuffing
Why it's wrong here
Credential stuffing uses stolen username/password pairs.
- ✗
Social engineering
Why it's wrong here
Social engineering involves tricking users, not automated attempts.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.