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SSCP Practice Question: Which THREE of the following are common…
Which THREE of the following are common indicators of a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between direct indicators of an attack (like unexpected script execution or script tags) and secondary consequences (like unusual network traffic or cookie anomalies), causing candidates to select options that are results of an attack rather than the attack itself.
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
✓
JavaScript execution in the browser's developer console that was not initiated by the user
XSS attacks often inject malicious JavaScript that executes in the victim's browser without user initiation. Observing unexpected script execution in the developer console indicates that an attacker's payload has run, which is a direct sign of a successful XSS exploit.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Unusual cookie values or multiple cookies
Why it's wrong here
May indicate session fixation or hijacking, not specifically XSS.
- ✓
JavaScript execution in the browser's developer console that was not initiated by the user
Why this is correct
XSS payloads often execute script automatically.
- ✓
Presence of script tags in the page source that are not part of the original application
Why this is correct
Injected script tags are a hallmark of XSS.
- ✓
Unexpected pop-up windows in the browser
Why this is correct
XSS can inject JavaScript that creates pop-ups.
- ✗
Unusual network traffic to external IP addresses
Why it's wrong here
May be caused by other malware, not specifically XSS.
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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.