200-201 Network Intrusion Analysis Practice Question
An analyst identifies a PCAP with a reverse shell session. Which characteristic in the traffic would most likely indicate an interactive shell session?
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
✓
Bidirectional traffic with small packets and command echo patterns
Reverse shells often exhibit bidirectional traffic with interactive patterns, such as small irregular packets and commands echoed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Large file transfers over FTP
Why it's wrong here
Bulk FTP transfers are one-directional, high-volume data movement with no command-response pairing, so they lack the request-reply cadence of an interactive shell. It is tempting because exfiltration traffic is malicious, and FTP would be the answer when the question asks how large volumes of data are moved out of a network.
- ✓
Bidirectional traffic with small packets and command echo patterns
Why this is correct
Bidirectional small packets with command echo patterns reveal an interactive shell: each keystroke travels to the attacker, the command output returns, and the shell echoes input back. This request-response rhythm, with tiny payloads and echoed characters, satisfies the stem's requirement for identifying live human interaction rather than bulk data transfer.
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Periodic HTTP GET requests at regular intervals
Why it's wrong here
Regular-interval HTTP GETs indicate beaconing or polling from an implant, not a human typing commands and receiving output. It is tempting because beaconing is command-and-control traffic, and periodic GETs would be correct when the question asks how an analyst identifies a compromised host checking in with its controller.
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Constant stream of UDP packets
Why it's wrong here
A constant UDP stream is connectionless, one-way media or tunnelled traffic with no session state, so it cannot carry the sequential command-and-response exchange of an interactive shell. It is tempting because UDP is used for covert channels, and it would be correct when the question asks how data is tunnelled past filters.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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