This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of network intrusion analysis. 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.
An analyst uses Wireshark to investigate a suspicious download. The TCP stream shows a GET request for a .exe file from an external IP, followed by a 200 OK response. The response contains the file but the last packet in the stream has a FIN flag set from the server. The client sends an ACK but then immediately sends a RST. What does this behavior suggest?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
The client application crashed after receiving the file
Why wrong: Crash would likely not send a clean ACK then RST.
Normal completion of download
Why wrong: Normal completion does not include a RST after ACK.
The server is performing a delayed response
Why wrong: Server is not initiating the RST.
The client intentionally terminated the connection to evade detection
RST after receiving data can be used to avoid logging.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The client intentionally terminated the connection to evade detection
The client sending a RST immediately after acknowledging the FIN indicates an abnormal termination. In a normal TCP teardown, the client would send its own FIN to close the connection gracefully. The RST suggests the client application intentionally aborted the connection, which is a common evasion technique to avoid detection by network monitoring tools that may not fully process the RST.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The client application crashed after receiving the file
Why it's wrong here
Crash would likely not send a clean ACK then RST.
Normal completion of download
Why it's wrong here
Normal completion does not include a RST after ACK.
The server is performing a delayed response
Why it's wrong here
Server is not initiating the RST.
The client intentionally terminated the connection to evade detection
Why this is correct
RST after receiving data can be used to avoid logging.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the difference between a graceful TCP teardown (FIN/ACK exchange) and an abrupt reset (RST), and the trap here is assuming that any ACK followed by a RST indicates a crash or normal behavior, rather than recognizing the RST as an intentional evasion tactic.
Detailed technical explanation
In TCP, the RST flag is used to abort a connection abruptly, bypassing the normal FIN handshake (RFC 793). Malware often uses this pattern to download a payload and then immediately reset the connection, preventing the session from being fully logged or analyzed by intrusion detection systems (IDS) that rely on complete TCP streams. This behavior can also be seen in tools that implement 'self-destruct' mechanisms to avoid forensic capture.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Network Intrusion Analysis — This question tests Network Intrusion Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The client intentionally terminated the connection to evade detection — The client sending a RST immediately after acknowledging the FIN indicates an abnormal termination. In a normal TCP teardown, the client would send its own FIN to close the connection gracefully. The RST suggests the client application intentionally aborted the connection, which is a common evasion technique to avoid detection by network monitoring tools that may not fully process the RST.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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