- A
DDoS
Why wrong: DDoS overwhelms services, not redirects traffic.
- B
DNS poisoning
DNS poisoning corrupts the cache to redirect queries.
- C
Man-in-the-middle
Why wrong: MitM intercepts communications; DNS poisoning is a method.
- D
ARP spoofing
Why wrong: ARP spoofing links an attacker's MAC address to a legitimate IP.
Question 231 of 1,000
200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. 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.
A security engineer discovers that an attacker has inserted fake entries into a DNS resolver's cache, redirecting users to a malicious website. Which attack has occurred?
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
✓
DNS poisoning
DNS poisoning, also known as DNS cache poisoning, occurs when an attacker inserts forged DNS resource records into a resolver's cache. This causes the resolver to return a malicious IP address for a legitimate domain, redirecting users to an attacker-controlled site without their knowledge.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
DDoS
Why it's wrong here
DDoS overwhelms services, not redirects traffic.
- ✓
DNS poisoning
Why this is correct
DNS poisoning corrupts the cache to redirect queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Man-in-the-middle
Why it's wrong here
MitM intercepts communications; DNS poisoning is a method.
- ✗
ARP spoofing
Why it's wrong here
ARP spoofing links an attacker's MAC address to a legitimate IP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between DNS poisoning and ARP spoofing by presenting a scenario involving redirection to a malicious site, leading candidates to confuse the Layer 2 ARP attack with the Layer 7 DNS cache corruption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DNS poisoning exploits the lack of authentication in traditional DNS queries (before DNSSEC). An attacker can send a crafted DNS response with a spoofed source IP and a transaction ID that matches the resolver's pending query, causing the resolver to cache the malicious record. In a real-world scenario, this technique was used in the 2018 DNSpooq attacks, where multiple DNS implementations were vulnerable to cache poisoning due to weak transaction ID randomization.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Common DNS Record Types
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address mapping | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address mapping | example.com → 2606:2800::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another hostname | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server for domain | example.com → mail.example.com (priority 10) |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all |
| NS | Authoritative name servers | example.com NS ns1.example.com |
| PTR | Reverse DNS (IP → hostname) | 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com |
| SOA | Zone authority record | Primary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Concepts — This question tests Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DNS poisoning — DNS poisoning, also known as DNS cache poisoning, occurs when an attacker inserts forged DNS resource records into a resolver's cache. This causes the resolver to return a malicious IP address for a legitimate domain, redirecting users to an attacker-controlled site without their knowledge.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 200-201 exam.
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