The correct answer is password spraying attack. While a dictionary attack targets a single account with many passwords from a list, password spraying reverses this approach by using a small set of common passwords across many usernames, specifically designed to evade account lockout thresholds by keeping attempts low and slow. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this distinction tests your understanding of credential-based attack patterns and their operational impact on authentication controls. A common trap is confusing the two because both use password lists, but the key difference lies in the target: dictionary attacks hammer one user, while password spraying spreads attempts across many users. Remember the memory tip: “Spray the crowd, not the individual”—if the scenario shows multiple usernames with a single password attempt each, it’s spraying; if it shows one username with many password tries, it’s a dictionary attack.
SSCP Access Controls Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of access controls. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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. The following is from a Windows security log:
Event ID 4625 (Logon Failure)
Account Name: multiple different usernames
Source Network Address: 10.10.10.10
Failure Reason: Unknown user name or bad password.
Multiple such entries appear within a short time span, each with a different username but the same source IP.
Based on the exhibit, what 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. The following is from a Windows security log:
Event ID 4625 (Logon Failure)
Account Name: multiple different usernames
Source Network Address: 10.10.10.10
Failure Reason: Unknown user name or bad password.
Multiple such entries appear within a short time span, each with a different username but the same source IP.
A
Brute-force attack
Why wrong: Brute-force usually tries many passwords on a single account, not multiple usernames with the same password.
B
Pass-the-hash attack
Why wrong: Pass-the-hash uses stolen NTLM hashes to authenticate, not interactive login attempts.
C
Dictionary attack
Why wrong: A dictionary attack also typically targets one account with many common passwords.
D
Password spraying attack
Password spraying attempts one or a few common passwords across many accounts, matching the pattern.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Password spraying attack
The exhibit shows a single username being targeted with multiple passwords from a list, which is characteristic of a dictionary attack. However, the correct answer is password spraying attack because the scenario likely involves trying a single common password against many usernames, not many passwords against one user. In password spraying, the attacker uses a small set of common passwords across many accounts to avoid account lockout thresholds, which matches the exhibit's pattern of low-and-slow 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.
✗
Brute-force attack
Why it's wrong here
Brute-force usually tries many passwords on a single account, not multiple usernames with the same password.
✗
Pass-the-hash attack
Why it's wrong here
Pass-the-hash uses stolen NTLM hashes to authenticate, not interactive login attempts.
✗
Dictionary attack
Why it's wrong here
A dictionary attack also typically targets one account with many common passwords.
✓
Password spraying attack
Why this is correct
Password spraying attempts one or a few common passwords across many accounts, matching the 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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing dictionary attacks (many passwords, one user) with password spraying (one password, many users), as both use a wordlist but differ in the attack vector and lockout avoidance strategy.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Password spraying exploits the common practice of using weak passwords like 'Password123' across an organization. Attackers often use tools like Hydra or custom scripts to attempt one password per user per cycle, staying below the account lockout threshold (e.g., 3-5 attempts per 15 minutes). This technique is particularly effective against Active Directory environments where lockout policies are configured, as it avoids triggering alerts that a brute-force or dictionary attack would cause.
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.
Access Controls — This question tests Access Controls — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Password spraying attack — The exhibit shows a single username being targeted with multiple passwords from a list, which is characteristic of a dictionary attack. However, the correct answer is password spraying attack because the scenario likely involves trying a single common password against many usernames, not many passwords against one user. In password spraying, the attacker uses a small set of common passwords across many accounts to avoid account lockout thresholds, which matches the exhibit's pattern of low-and-slow 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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