Quick Answer
The answer is process injection, token manipulation, and access token manipulation. These three techniques are commonly used in threat hunting within Microsoft Defender XDR to detect privilege escalation because they directly exploit how Windows handles security contexts and permissions. Process injection allows an attacker to run malicious code within a legitimate process, bypassing security controls, while token manipulation and access token manipulation involve altering or stealing authentication tokens to impersonate a higher-privileged user or system account. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between privilege escalation techniques and other attack stages—a common trap is confusing data exfiltration (a goal) or spearphishing (initial access) with the technique itself. Remember that privilege escalation is about gaining higher permissions, not moving data or entering the network. A useful memory tip: think of the three T’s—Token, Token, and Process—to recall that two techniques involve tokens and one involves process injection.
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. 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.
Which THREE techniques are commonly used in threat hunting within Microsoft Defender XDR to detect privilege escalation?
Spearphishing attachment
Why wrong: This is initial access, not escalation.
Data exfiltration
Why wrong: This is an objective, not a technique for escalation.
Token manipulation
Involves stealing or creating tokens to gain higher privileges.
Access token manipulation
Modifying tokens to escalate privileges.
Process injection
Injecting code into higher-privilege processes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Token manipulation
Token manipulation, process injection, and access token manipulation are common privilege escalation techniques. Data exfiltration is a goal, not technique; spearphishing is initial access.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Spearphishing attachment
Why it's wrong here
This is initial access, not escalation.
Data exfiltration
Why it's wrong here
This is an objective, not a technique for escalation.
Token manipulation
Why this is correct
Involves stealing or creating tokens to gain higher privileges.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Access token manipulation
Why this is correct
Modifying tokens to escalate privileges.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Process injection
Why this is correct
Injecting code into higher-privilege processes.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-200 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: Token manipulation — Token manipulation, process injection, and access token manipulation are common privilege escalation techniques. Data exfiltration is a goal, not technique; spearphishing is initial access.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-200 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This SC-200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 SC-200 exam.
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