Cybersecurity-Practitioner SOC Operations Practice Question
An incident responder notices that a threat actor used living-off-the-land binaries (like PowerShell and Certutil) to download malicious payloads onto endpoints monitored by Cortex XDR. Under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, which Tactic encompasses these execution methods?
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
✓
Execution
Execution (TA0002) consists of techniques that result in running adversary-controlled code on a local system, such as leveraging scripting languages and utilities.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Resource Development
Why it's wrong here
Resource Development consists of techniques adversaries use to establish infrastructure and capabilities before an attack.
- ✓
Execution
Why this is correct
Using scripting tools and command-line utilities to run payloads falls directly under the Execution tactic.
- ✗
Exfiltration
Why it's wrong here
Exfiltration covers stealing and transferring data out of the network.
- ✗
Reconnaissance
Why it's wrong here
Reconnaissance refers to information-gathering activities prior to gaining initial access.
About these practice questions
One of 206 original Cybersecurity-Practitioner practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This Cybersecurity-Practitioner practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks 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 Cybersecurity-Practitioner exam.