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312-50V12 · Question #285

Which among the following is the best example of the third step (delivery) in the cyber kill chain?

The correct answer is D. An intruder sends a malicious attachment via email to a target. The Cyber Kill Chain's third phase, Delivery, is when the weaponized payload is transmitted to the target. This is distinct from creating the weapon (Weaponization) or triggering it (Exploitation).

Submitted by luis.pe· Mar 4, 2026System Hacking Phases and Attack Techniques

Question

Which among the following is the best example of the third step (delivery) in the cyber kill chain?

Options

  • AAn intruder creates malware to be used as a malicious attachment to an email.
  • BAn intruder's malware is triggered when a target opens a malicious email attachment.
  • CAn intruder's malware is installed on a targets machine.
  • DAn intruder sends a malicious attachment via email to a target.

How the community answered

(24 responses)
  • B
    4% (1)
  • C
    4% (1)
  • D
    92% (22)

Why each option

The Cyber Kill Chain's third phase, Delivery, is when the weaponized payload is transmitted to the target. This is distinct from creating the weapon (Weaponization) or triggering it (Exploitation).

AAn intruder creates malware to be used as a malicious attachment to an email.

Creating malware to be used as a malicious attachment corresponds to the second step, Weaponization, where the attacker couples an exploit with a backdoor into a deliverable payload.

BAn intruder's malware is triggered when a target opens a malicious email attachment.

The target opening the malicious attachment and triggering the malware corresponds to the fourth step, Exploitation, where the malicious code is executed on the victim's system.

CAn intruder's malware is installed on a targets machine.

Malware being installed on the target's machine corresponds to the fifth step, Installation, where a persistent backdoor or implant is established on the compromised system.

DAn intruder sends a malicious attachment via email to a target.Correct

Sending a malicious attachment via email directly maps to the Delivery phase of the Cyber Kill Chain, where the adversary transmits the weaponized payload to the target environment. This is the moment the attacker transfers control of the weapon to the target, in this case through an email vector. Delivery represents the first point at which the target has an opportunity to block the attack.

Concept tested: Cyber Kill Chain phases and Delivery stage identification

Source: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/cyber/cyber-kill-chain.html

Topics

#cyber kill chain#delivery phase#malware delivery#attack methodology

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