hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped

A security analyst is reviewing firewall logs and sees many incoming packets with a source IP address that matches the internal IP range of the company (10.0.0.0/8) arriving on the external interface. Which type of attack is likely being attempted?

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A security analyst is reviewing firewall logs and sees many incoming packets with a source IP address that matches the internal IP range of the company (10.0.0.0/8) arriving on the external interface. Which type of attack is likely being attempted?

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

Distractor review

Smurf attack

A Smurf attack uses ICMP echo requests with a spoofed source IP to broadcast addresses, causing amplification; the source IP is not necessarily internal.

B

Best answer

IP spoofing attack

Correct. The attacker is spoofing the source IP address to appear as an internal host, trying to bypass firewall rules that may allow internal traffic without inspection.

C

Distractor review

SYN flood

A SYN flood sends many TCP SYN packets without completing handshakes, but the source IPs are often random, not specifically internal.

D

Distractor review

DNS amplification

DNS amplification uses open DNS resolvers to flood a target with large DNS responses; the source IPs are the resolvers, not internal addresses.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • 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.

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?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: IP spoofing attack — IP spoofing involves falsifying the source IP address in packets. When an external packet claims to be from an internal IP range, it is a clear sign of spoofing, often used to bypass access control lists or hide the attacker's identity. Firewalls should have anti-spoofing rules on external interfaces.

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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