The correct conclusion is that the host has a backdoor listening on UDP port 4444 with an active command session via cmd.exe. This is because svchost.exe should never bind to a raw UDP listener—it normally hosts Windows services over TCP or named pipes—so its appearance on UDP port 4444 is a strong anomaly. The established TCP connection to 203.0.113.5 with cmd.exe as the associated process confirms an active remote command shell, which is the hallmark of a backdoor providing remote execution. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to identify backdoors via network connections and process analysis, a core skill for detecting compromised hosts. A common trap is assuming svchost.exe is always benign; remember that attackers often masquerade malicious processes under trusted names. Memory tip: “UDP on svchost is a ghost in the host.”
200-201 Host-Based Analysis Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of host-based 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
From a Windows host, the analyst runs:
C:\> netstat -ano | findstr 4444
Output:
TCP 192.168.1.100:49201 203.0.113.5:4444 ESTABLISHED 1234
UDP 0.0.0.0:4444 *:* 5678
The analyst also runs:
C:\> tasklist | findstr 1234
cmd.exe 1234 Console 1 2,048 K
C:\> tasklist | findstr 5678
svchost.exe 5678 Services 0 1,024 K
Based on the exhibit, what is the most likely conclusion about the host's security state?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
From a Windows host, the analyst runs:
C:\> netstat -ano | findstr 4444
Output:
TCP 192.168.1.100:49201 203.0.113.5:4444 ESTABLISHED 1234
UDP 0.0.0.0:4444 *:* 5678
The analyst also runs:
C:\> tasklist | findstr 1234
cmd.exe 1234 Console 1 2,048 K
C:\> tasklist | findstr 5678
svchost.exe 5678 Services 0 1,024 K
A
The svchost.exe process on UDP port 4444 indicates a Windows service that should be monitored.
Why wrong: svchost.exe in the Services session is normal, but the context of port 4444 is unusual.
B
The established TCP connection to 203.0.113.5 indicates data exfiltration to a known malicious IP.
Why wrong: While possible, the IP is not known to be malicious; the backdoor scenario is more likely based on the evidence.
C
The host is running a legitimate remote administration tool on port 4444.
Why wrong: No legitimate common service uses port 4444 from cmd.exe.
D
The host has a backdoor listening on UDP port 4444, and the established connection suggests an active command session via cmd.exe.
The combination of UDP listener and cmd.exe connection to external IP is highly suspicious.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The host has a backdoor listening on UDP port 4444, and the established connection suggests an active command session via cmd.exe.
The exhibit shows svchost.exe listening on UDP port 4444, which is unusual because svchost.exe typically hosts Windows services over TCP or named pipes, not raw UDP. Additionally, an established TCP connection to 203.0.113.5 with cmd.exe as the associated process indicates an active command shell session, which is a classic sign of a backdoor. The combination of a non-standard UDP listener and an active cmd.exe connection strongly suggests the host is compromised with a backdoor providing remote command execution.
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.
✗
The svchost.exe process on UDP port 4444 indicates a Windows service that should be monitored.
Why it's wrong here
svchost.exe in the Services session is normal, but the context of port 4444 is unusual.
✗
The established TCP connection to 203.0.113.5 indicates data exfiltration to a known malicious IP.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the IP is not known to be malicious; the backdoor scenario is more likely based on the evidence.
✗
The host is running a legitimate remote administration tool on port 4444.
Why it's wrong here
No legitimate common service uses port 4444 from cmd.exe.
✓
The host has a backdoor listening on UDP port 4444, and the established connection suggests an active command session via cmd.exe.
Why this is correct
The combination of UDP listener and cmd.exe connection to external IP is highly suspicious.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that svchost.exe is always legitimate, but the trap here is that a UDP listener on port 4444 combined with an established cmd.exe connection is a definitive indicator of a backdoor, not a normal Windows service or remote admin tool.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
While possible, the IP is not known to be malicious; the backdoor scenario is more likely based on the evidence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
UDP port 4444 is commonly associated with the Blaster worm and other malware that use it for backdoor communication, as it is not registered with IANA for any legitimate service. Svchost.exe is a generic host process for Windows services, but it can be abused by malware to hide malicious threads; tools like Process Explorer can reveal the actual service or DLL behind svchost.exe. In real-world incidents, attackers often use netcat or custom backdoors that bind to UDP 4444 and spawn cmd.exe upon connection, allowing interactive remote control without triggering typical firewall alerts.
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Host-Based Analysis — This question tests Host-Based Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The host has a backdoor listening on UDP port 4444, and the established connection suggests an active command session via cmd.exe. — The exhibit shows svchost.exe listening on UDP port 4444, which is unusual because svchost.exe typically hosts Windows services over TCP or named pipes, not raw UDP. Additionally, an established TCP connection to 203.0.113.5 with cmd.exe as the associated process indicates an active command shell session, which is a classic sign of a backdoor. The combination of a non-standard UDP listener and an active cmd.exe connection strongly suggests the host is compromised with a backdoor providing remote command execution.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst is analyzing a Windows host that is communicating with an external server at 192.168.1.50. Based on the output, which process is likely malicious?
hard
A.svchost.exe (PID 1420) because it is connecting to an external IP on port 80.
B.cmd.exe (PID 2568) because it could be used to launch other processes.
✓ C.powershell.exe (PID 2792) because it has an established HTTPS connection to an external server.
D.notepad.exe (PID 2344) because it is not expecting to make any network connections.
Why C: PowerShell.exe (PID 2792) is the likely malicious process because it has an established HTTPS connection (TCP port 443) to an external server at 192.168.1.50. PowerShell is a powerful scripting tool often abused by attackers to execute arbitrary code, download payloads, or establish command-and-control (C2) channels over encrypted HTTPS, which can evade detection by traditional signature-based security tools.
Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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