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.
Exhibit
Event ID 4625: An account failed to log on. Subject: Account Name: admin, Logon Type: 3, Source Network Address: 10.0.0.100, Workstation Name: WS-001. Failure Reason: Unknown user name or bad password. Count: 15 in 5 minutes.
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?
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.
Event ID 4625: An account failed to log on. Subject: Account Name: admin, Logon Type: 3, Source Network Address: 10.0.0.100, Workstation Name: WS-001. Failure Reason: Unknown user name or bad password. Count: 15 in 5 minutes.
A
Brute force attack
Repeated logon attempts suggest brute force.
B
Kerberos ticket replay
Why wrong: Replay attacks target ticket granting, not logon failures.
C
Pass-the-hash attack
Why wrong: Pass-the-hash does not produce multiple logon failures.
D
Privilege escalation
Why wrong: Privilege escalation is a different attack stage.
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
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.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 this is correct
Repeated logon attempts suggest brute force.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Kerberos ticket replay
Why it's wrong here
Replay attacks target ticket granting, not logon failures.
✗
Pass-the-hash attack
Why it's wrong here
Pass-the-hash does not produce multiple logon failures.
✗
Privilege escalation
Why it's wrong here
Privilege escalation is a different attack stage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. 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.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SSCP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Systems and Application Security — This question tests Systems and Application Security — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Brute force attack — 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.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SSCP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.