The answer is a Smurf attack. This is correct because the attack exploits ICMP by sending echo request packets to a network’s broadcast address, with the source IP spoofed to be the victim’s address. Every host on that network then replies to the spoofed source, flooding the target with ICMP echo replies and overwhelming its bandwidth or resources. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this question tests your understanding of amplification and reflection attacks, often appearing in the network security domain. A common trap is confusing it with a ping flood or a DDoS that uses direct traffic, but the key distinction here is the use of the broadcast address to multiply replies. For a memory tip, think “Smurf = Spoofed source + broadcast flood” — the little blue Smurfs all shout back at once, drowning out the victim.
N10-009 Network Security Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network security. 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 attacker sends ICMP echo request packets to the broadcast address of a network, with the source IP address spoofed to be the target's IP address. This causes all hosts on the network to send ICMP echo replies to the target, overwhelming it. Which type of attack is this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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Smurf attack
This is a classic Smurf attack, which exploits ICMP by sending echo request packets to the network's broadcast address with the source IP spoofed as the target. All hosts on the network receive the request and reply to the spoofed source, flooding the target with ICMP echo replies and consuming its bandwidth or resources.
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.
✓
Smurf attack
Why this is correct
A Smurf attack uses ICMP echo requests to the broadcast address with a spoofed source IP to generate a flood of replies to the victim.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Fraggle attack
Why it's wrong here
A Fraggle attack is similar but uses UDP echo packets (port 7) instead of ICMP.
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Ping flood
Why it's wrong here
A ping flood is a direct DoS sending many ICMP packets to the victim from one or many sources, not using broadcast amplification.
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ARP poisoning
Why it's wrong here
ARP poisoning involves sending forged ARP packets to manipulate the IP-to-MAC mappings, not ICMP floods.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between Smurf (ICMP) and Fraggle (UDP) attacks, so candidates mistakenly choose Fraggle when they see 'broadcast' and 'spoofed source' without noting the protocol used.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
A Fraggle attack is similar but uses UDP echo packets (port 7) instead of ICMP.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Smurf attack relies on directed broadcast forwarding, which was enabled by default in many routers until RFC 2644 deprecated it. The amplification factor is roughly the number of hosts on the subnet; for example, a /24 network with 254 hosts can generate 254 replies for each spoofed request. Modern networks mitigate this by disabling IP directed broadcasts on routers and using ingress filtering to block spoofed source addresses.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this N10-009 question in full detail.
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Smurf attack — This is a classic Smurf attack, which exploits ICMP by sending echo request packets to the network's broadcast address with the source IP spoofed as the target. All hosts on the network receive the request and reply to the spoofed source, flooding the target with ICMP echo replies and consuming its bandwidth or resources.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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