The correct answer is a brute-force attack. This is the most likely type of attack because the audit log shows repeated failed login attempts from a single IP address, followed by a successful login from the same IP just five minutes later, which perfectly matches the pattern of systematically trying every possible password combination until access is gained. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish brute-force attacks from similar threats like dictionary attacks, which use a precompiled list of likely passwords rather than exhaustive guessing, and password spraying, which targets many accounts with a few common passwords. A common trap is confusing the rapid, sequential attempts of a brute-force attack with a dictionary attack, but the key differentiator here is the sheer volume and time-bound success. Memory tip: think of a brute-force attack as a battering ram—it keeps hitting the same door until it breaks down, unlike a dictionary attack which tries a master key ring.
SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of systems and application security. 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.
During a security audit, an analyst finds that a server's audit log shows repeated failed login attempts from a single IP, followed by a successful login from the same IP five minutes later. What is the most likely type of attack that occurred?
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.
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
Option D is correct because a brute-force attack involves repeated attempts until success. Option A (replay) requires capturing and reusing credentials; B (man-in-the-middle) intercepts traffic; C (dictionary) uses a list of likely passwords, but the description matches brute-force due to time; E (spray) targets multiple accounts with few passwords.
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.
✗
Dictionary attack
Why it's wrong here
Dictionary uses common passwords, but the pattern of repeated failures then success could be either; brute-force is more generic.
✗
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
MITM intercepts communications, does not generate many failed logins.
✓
Brute-force attack
Why this is correct
Brute-force tries all possible combinations until success, matching the log pattern.
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.
✗
Replay attack
Why it's wrong here
Replay involves resending captured authentication packets, not many failed attempts.
✗
Password spraying attack
Why it's wrong here
Spraying uses a few passwords against many accounts, not many attempts from one IP.
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.
Systems and Application Security — This question tests Systems and Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Brute-force attack — Option D is correct because a brute-force attack involves repeated attempts until success. Option A (replay) requires capturing and reusing credentials; B (man-in-the-middle) intercepts traffic; C (dictionary) uses a list of likely passwords, but the description matches brute-force due to time; E (spray) targets multiple accounts with few passwords.
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.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst reviews a Windows Security event log entry showing multiple logon failures for user 'admin' from IP 10.0.0.100 within 5 minutes. What type of attack is most likely occurring?
medium
✓ A.Brute force attack
B.Kerberos ticket replay
C.Pass-the-hash attack
D.Privilege escalation
Why A: Multiple logon failures from a single IP indicate a brute force attack. Pass-the-hash uses captured hashes, not repeated failures. Kerberos ticket replay is different. Privilege escalation is not indicated.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
Question Discussion
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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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