Cybersecurity-Practitioner SOC Operations Practice Question
While investigating a sophisticated adversary group using the MITRE ATT&CK navigator, a SOC analyst notes that the threat actor leveraged valid accounts to maintain persistence while modifying group memberships to escalate privileges. Which combination of MITRE ATT&CK tactics best describes these observed phases?
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
✓
Persistence and Privilege Escalation
Using valid accounts for persistence falls under the Persistence tactic, and modifying group memberships to gain higher access falls under Privilege Escalation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Execution and Credential Access
Why it's wrong here
Execution runs code; credential access steals secrets. Neither accurately describes modifying group memberships.
- ✗
Collection and Exfiltration
Why it's wrong here
Collection and exfiltration deal with gathering data and transferring it outside the environment.
- ✓
Persistence and Privilege Escalation
Why this is correct
Maintaining access via valid accounts maps to Persistence, and altering group memberships maps to Privilege Escalation.
- ✗
Initial Access and Defense Evasion
Why it's wrong here
Initial access is getting in; defense evasion is hiding actions. Neither specifically matches modifying group memberships for higher rights.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every Cybersecurity-Practitioner question from scratch — 206 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. 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.