SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring and analysis. 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.
Oct 12 14:23:45 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.200 port 22 ssh2
Oct 12 14:23:47 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.200 port 22 ssh2
Oct 12 14:23:49 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.200 port 22 ssh2
Oct 12 14:23:51 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.200 port 22 ssh2
Based on the exhibit, which type of attack is most likely occurring?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
Oct 12 14:23:45 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.200 port 22 ssh2
Oct 12 14:23:47 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.200 port 22 ssh2
Oct 12 14:23:49 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.200 port 22 ssh2
Oct 12 14:23:51 server sshd[1234]: Failed password for root from 192.168.1.200 port 22 ssh2
A
Denial of service.
Why wrong: DoS attacks aim to overwhelm services, not repeatedly authenticate.
B
Brute force attack.
Multiple rapid failed attempts for the same user from one IP is characteristic of brute force.
C
Dictionary attack.
Why wrong: Dictionary attacks use a wordlist, but the logs do not show patterns of many different passwords; brute force is more general.
D
Man-in-the-middle.
Why wrong: MITM attacks intercept communications; failed SSH logins do not indicate this.
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.
The exhibit shows a high number of failed authentication attempts (e.g., 1000+ failures) from a single source IP within a short time window, targeting a specific user account. This pattern is characteristic of a brute force attack, where an attacker systematically tries many password combinations to gain unauthorized access. Unlike a dictionary attack, which uses a predefined list of likely passwords, a brute force attack exhaustively tests all possible combinations, as indicated by the sheer volume of attempts.
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.
✗
Denial of service.
Why it's wrong here
DoS attacks aim to overwhelm services, not repeatedly authenticate.
✓
Brute force attack.
Why this is correct
Multiple rapid failed attempts for the same user from one IP is characteristic of brute force.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Dictionary attack.
Why it's wrong here
Dictionary attacks use a wordlist, but the logs do not show patterns of many different passwords; brute force is more general.
✗
Man-in-the-middle.
Why it's wrong here
MITM attacks intercept communications; failed SSH logins do not indicate this.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse a brute force attack with a dictionary attack, but the key differentiator is the exhaustive, non-selective nature of the attempts versus the use of a precompiled wordlist.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Dictionary attacks use a wordlist, but the logs do not show patterns of many different passwords; brute force is more general.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a brute force attack, the attacker typically uses automated tools (e.g., Hydra, Medusa) to iterate through password combinations, often leveraging parallel connections to speed up the process. The exhibit's high failure count and single source IP suggest a lack of account lockout or rate limiting, which are common defenses. Real-world scenarios include attacks on SSH (port 22) or RDP (port 3389) services, where logs show repeated 'Authentication failure' events from the same host.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — This question tests Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Brute force attack. — The exhibit shows a high number of failed authentication attempts (e.g., 1000+ failures) from a single source IP within a short time window, targeting a specific user account. This pattern is characteristic of a brute force attack, where an attacker systematically tries many password combinations to gain unauthorized access. Unlike a dictionary attack, which uses a predefined list of likely passwords, a brute force attack exhaustively tests all possible combinations, as indicated by the sheer volume of attempts.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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