The answer is the connection from 203.0.113.5:8080 because a suspicious netstat connection unusual source port like 8080 from an external IP strongly indicates tunneling or proxy activity. In normal TCP traffic, external clients connect from high ephemeral ports (e.g., 49152–65535), not from well-known service ports like 8080, which is typically reserved for web proxies or alternate HTTP services. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this tests your ability to differentiate between legitimate internal traffic and covert channels; a common trap is dismissing a connection just because the destination port is standard (e.g., 443), while ignoring the anomalous source port. Remember that attackers often use non-standard source ports to bypass firewall rules or hide command-and-control traffic. A useful memory tip: if the source port looks like a service port, treat it as a red flag—think “source service equals suspicious.”
SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. 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.
netstat -an | grep :80
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:80 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 10.0.1.25:80 192.168.1.10:54321 ESTABLISHED
tcp 0 0 10.0.1.25:80 10.0.2.50:44350 ESTABLISHED
tcp 0 0 10.0.1.25:80 203.0.113.5:8080 ESTABLISHED
An analyst runs the netstat command on a web server. Based on the output, which connection is the MOST suspicious?
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 203.0.113.5:8080
Option B is correct because the external IP 203.0.113.5 from the documentation range is connecting on an unusual source port (8080), which is often used for proxies or tunneling. Option A is wrong because 192.168.1.10 is a private IP with a high ephemeral port, typical. Option C is wrong because 10.0.2.50 is internal. Option D is wrong because the listening port is expected.
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 203.0.113.5:8080
Why this is correct
203.0.113.5 is a TEST-NET address (RFC 5737) rarely used in production, and source port 8080 is atypical for a client.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The connection from 192.168.1.10:54321
Why it's wrong here
This is a legitimate internal client with a typical ephemeral port.
✗
The connection from 10.0.2.50:44350
Why it's wrong here
Internal IP with a high ephemeral port is normal.
✗
The listening on 0.0.0.0:80
Why it's wrong here
This is expected for a web server.
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.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SSCP 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.
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The connection from 203.0.113.5:8080 — Option B is correct because the external IP 203.0.113.5 from the documentation range is connecting on an unusual source port (8080), which is often used for proxies or tunneling. Option A is wrong because 192.168.1.10 is a private IP with a high ephemeral port, typical. Option C is wrong because 10.0.2.50 is internal. Option D is wrong because the listening port is expected.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which SSCP 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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