hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: During a security incident, the IR team discovers…
During a security incident, the IR team discovers that an attacker used a valid user account to access sensitive data. The account had multifactor authentication (MFA) enabled. Which attack technique most likely bypassed the MFA?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between technical bypasses (e.g., token theft, MITM) and social/behavioral bypasses (e.g., MFA fatigue), leading candidates to overcomplicate the attack when the simplest explanation—user error under pressure—is correct.
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
✓
MFA fatigue attack
MFA fatigue attacks exploit user behavior by bombarding the victim with repeated push notifications until they inadvertently approve an authentication request. Since the attacker already has the valid credentials, they trigger the MFA prompt repeatedly, and the user eventually accepts, granting the attacker access without needing to compromise the MFA mechanism itself.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Session hijacking
Why it's wrong here
Session hijacking assumes an authenticated session, not bypassing MFA.
- ✓
MFA fatigue attack
Why this is correct
The attacker spams MFA requests until the user approves.
- ✗
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack
Why it's wrong here
MITM can intercept credentials but MFA typically requires a second factor.
- ✗
Token theft from the endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Token theft may allow reuse but does not bypass MFA challenge.
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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.