- A
lime-forensics --dump /tmp/mem.lime
LiME is the correct tool for Linux memory acquisition, outputting a .lime file.
- B
cat /proc/kcore > /tmp/mem.dump
Why wrong: catting /proc/kcore can capture memory but is not recommended for forensics because it does not produce a clean dump and may cause system instability.
- C
memdump -o /tmp/mem.dump
Why wrong: memdump is not a standard Linux memory acquisition tool; it may exist on some systems but is not as widely recognized as LiME.
- D
dd if=/dev/mem of=/tmp/mem.dump bs=1M
Why wrong: /dev/mem provides access to physical memory but may be restricted; dd can be used but LiME is designed for forensic acquisition and is more reliable.
Question 749 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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.
An incident responder is tasked with collecting forensic evidence from a compromised Linux server. Which command would the responder use to capture the contents of volatile memory (RAM) for analysis?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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
✓
lime-forensics --dump /tmp/mem.lime
Option A is correct because LiME (Linux Memory Extractor) is specifically designed to capture volatile memory from Linux systems with minimal footprint, outputting a raw memory dump that can be analyzed with tools like Volatility. The `--dump` flag directs the acquisition to a specified file, ensuring the capture is forensically sound by avoiding writes to the compromised filesystem where possible.
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.
- ✓
lime-forensics --dump /tmp/mem.lime
Why this is correct
LiME is the correct tool for Linux memory acquisition, outputting a .lime file.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
cat /proc/kcore > /tmp/mem.dump
Why it's wrong here
catting /proc/kcore can capture memory but is not recommended for forensics because it does not produce a clean dump and may cause system instability.
- ✗
memdump -o /tmp/mem.dump
Why it's wrong here
memdump is not a standard Linux memory acquisition tool; it may exist on some systems but is not as widely recognized as LiME.
- ✗
dd if=/dev/mem of=/tmp/mem.dump bs=1M
Why it's wrong here
/dev/mem provides access to physical memory but may be restricted; dd can be used but LiME is designed for forensic acquisition and is more reliable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume `dd if=/dev/mem` is a valid method for full RAM capture, not realizing that modern Linux kernels restrict access to `/dev/mem` to only the first megabyte, making it useless for forensic memory acquisition.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
LiME works by loading a kernel module that directly accesses physical memory pages, bypassing user-space restrictions, and can output to a file or over the network to avoid writing to the compromised disk. The tool supports formats like `raw` and `lime`, with the latter including metadata for easier analysis. In real-world incidents, using LiME over a network socket (`tcp:4444`) is preferred to prevent evidence contamination on the target system.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Incident Response and Recovery — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: lime-forensics --dump /tmp/mem.lime — Option A is correct because LiME (Linux Memory Extractor) is specifically designed to capture volatile memory from Linux systems with minimal footprint, outputting a raw memory dump that can be analyzed with tools like Volatility. The `--dump` flag directs the acquisition to a specified file, ensuring the capture is forensically sound by avoiding writes to the compromised filesystem where possible.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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