mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped

A network security analyst notices high CPU utilization on the core switch and detects a large volume of ARP replies from a single IP address that claims to be the default gateway for all local subnets. Which type of attack is MOST likely occurring?

Question 1mediummultiple choice
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A network security analyst notices high CPU utilization on the core switch and detects a large volume of ARP replies from a single IP address that claims to be the default gateway for all local subnets. Which type of attack is MOST likely occurring?

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.

A

Best answer

ARP poisoning

Sending forged ARP replies to redirect traffic is the classic definition of ARP poisoning. The high volume of replies and claiming to be the gateway are strong indicators.

B

Distractor review

DHCP starvation

DHCP starvation floods the network with DHCP requests to exhaust the address pool. It does not involve ARP replies or claiming to be the gateway.

C

Distractor review

MAC flooding

MAC flooding overwhelms a switch's MAC address table with fake MAC addresses to force it into hub mode, but it does not involve ARP replies pretending to be the gateway.

D

Distractor review

DNS amplification

DNS amplification is a DDoS attack that floods a target with large DNS response traffic. It does not operate at the ARP level.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses

Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
  • Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
  • Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
  • The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.

TExam Day Tips

  • Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
  • Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
  • Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.

Related practice questions

Related N10-009 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

More questions from this exam

Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.

Question 1

A network engineer needs to connect two switches located 400 meters apart. The cable run includes high electromagnetic interference from nearby machinery. The engineer decides to use fiber optic cabling. Which transceiver type and fiber combination should be used to ensure the link reaches 400 meters while remaining cost-effective?

Question 2

A network engineer is designing a new switched network and needs to ensure that broadcast traffic from one department does not reach another department's workstations. The engineer plans to use VLANs. Which of the following must be configured on the switches to isolate broadcast domains as intended?

Question 3

A security engineer is configuring a site-to-site VPN between two branch offices. The requirement is to encrypt all traffic between the two networks using IPsec. Which IPsec mode should be used to encrypt the entire IP packet including the original header?

Question 4

A network administrator is connecting two switches to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. Which technology should be used to combine multiple physical links into a single logical link?

Question 5

A network administrator is experiencing issues where unauthorized devices are offering IP addresses to clients, causing connectivity problems. Which security feature should be enabled on switches to prevent this?

Question 6

A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue and suspects the problem is related to the physical cabling. At which layer of the OSI model should the administrator begin their investigation?

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this N10-009 question test?

CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: ARP poisoning — ARP poisoning (also known as ARP spoofing) involves an attacker sending forged ARP replies to associate their MAC address with the IP address of another device (e.g., the default gateway). This allows interception of traffic.

What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?

Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.

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