SSCP Practice Question: A security analyst reviews the syslog message…
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of sscp exam topics. 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.
syslog: %SEC-6-IPACCESSLOGP: list ACL_IN denied tcp 10.0.1.15(54321) -> 192.0.2.50(80), 1 packet
A security analyst reviews the syslog message from a router. What does this log entry indicate?
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
syslog: %SEC-6-IPACCESSLOGP: list ACL_IN denied tcp 10.0.1.15(54321) -> 192.0.2.50(80), 1 packet
A
The router's ACL is misconfigured and is blocking all traffic.
Why wrong: Only one packet is logged; it may be a specific rule.
B
An external host attempted to access an internal web server and was blocked.
Why wrong: The source is internal, destination external.
C
An internal host attempted to access an external web server and was blocked.
The ACL denied the TCP connection to port 80.
D
An internal host successfully accessed an external web server.
Why wrong: The log says 'denied', so access was blocked.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
An internal host attempted to access an external web server and was blocked.
The log entry shows a packet from source IP 10.0.0.2 (internal) to destination IP 203.0.113.5 (external) on port 80 (HTTP) being denied by the router's access control list (ACL). The 'DENY' action indicates the traffic was blocked, not allowed. Since the source is internal and the destination is external, this matches an outbound connection attempt being blocked.
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 router's ACL is misconfigured and is blocking all traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Only one packet is logged; it may be a specific rule.
✗
An external host attempted to access an internal web server and was blocked.
Why it's wrong here
The source is internal, destination external.
✓
An internal host attempted to access an external web server and was blocked.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
An internal host successfully accessed an external web server.
Why it's wrong here
The log says 'denied', so access was blocked.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the ability to distinguish source vs. destination IPs in ACL logs, and the trap here is that candidates may misidentify the internal IP (10.0.0.2) as external due to not recognizing RFC 1918 private addresses, leading them to choose option B.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This log entry likely comes from a Cisco IOS router using 'access-list' logging with the 'log' keyword. The format typically includes the action (deny/permit), protocol (TCP), source/destination IPs, and ports. In real-world scenarios, such logs help identify misconfigured ACLs or policy violations, such as an internal host attempting to reach an unauthorized external web server, which could indicate malware or policy breach.
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.
Visual reference
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: An internal host attempted to access an external web server and was blocked. — The log entry shows a packet from source IP 10.0.0.2 (internal) to destination IP 203.0.113.5 (external) on port 80 (HTTP) being denied by the router's access control list (ACL). The 'DENY' action indicates the traffic was blocked, not allowed. Since the source is internal and the destination is external, this matches an outbound connection attempt being blocked.
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.
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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