- A
DHCP starvation attack
This is exactly the description of a DHCP starvation attack, where the attacker floods the DHCP server with requests to deplete the address pool.
- B
MAC flooding attack
Why wrong: MAC flooding attacks target the switch's MAC address table, not DHCP servers.
- C
ARP spoofing
Why wrong: ARP spoofing involves sending fake ARP replies to associate an attacker's MAC with an IP address, not DHCP exhaustion.
- D
DNS poisoning
Why wrong: DNS poisoning corrupts DNS cache to redirect traffic, unrelated to DHCP exhaustion.
Question 240 of 520
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.
A security analyst is reviewing logs and finds that a single MAC address is rapidly requesting IP addresses from a DHCP server, each time with a different client ID. The DHCP server is exhausting its address pool. Which type of attack is occurring?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
DHCP starvation attack
A DHCP starvation attack occurs when an attacker sends numerous DHCP discover messages, each with a unique client ID (chaddr), to exhaust the DHCP server's address pool. This prevents legitimate clients from obtaining IP addresses, as the server believes all leases are assigned. The rapid requests with different client IDs from a single MAC address are a hallmark of this attack.
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.
- ✓
DHCP starvation attack
Why this is correct
This is exactly the description of a DHCP starvation attack, where the attacker floods the DHCP server with requests to deplete the address pool.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
MAC flooding attack
Why it's wrong here
MAC flooding attacks target the switch's MAC address table, not DHCP servers.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing a switch that stops forwarding traffic correctly after receiving a flood of frames with unique source MAC addresses, causing the CAM table to overflow, would make MAC flooding the correct answer.
- ✗
ARP spoofing
Why it's wrong here
ARP spoofing involves sending fake ARP replies to associate an attacker's MAC with an IP address, not DHCP exhaustion.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing an attacker sending fake ARP messages to intercept traffic between two hosts on the same subnet, causing man-in-the-middle attacks or denial of service, would make ARP spoofing the correct answer.
- ✗
DNS poisoning
Why it's wrong here
DNS poisoning corrupts DNS cache to redirect traffic, unrelated to DHCP exhaustion.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing an attacker modifying DNS records to redirect users to a malicious site, or a scenario where users are being sent to incorrect IP addresses due to compromised DNS data.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓DHCP starvation attackCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This is exactly the description of a DHCP starvation attack, where the attacker floods the DHCP server with requests to deplete the address pool.
✗MAC flooding attackWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
MAC flooding attacks target switch MAC address tables by sending many frames with different source MAC addresses, not by exhausting DHCP IP address pools via rapid DHCP requests.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing a switch that stops forwarding traffic correctly after receiving a flood of frames with unique source MAC addresses, causing the CAM table to overflow, would make MAC flooding the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates confuse 'MAC address' in the log with MAC flooding, and both attacks involve exhaustion of a network resource, leading to a superficial association.
✗ARP spoofingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
ARP spoofing involves sending forged ARP replies to associate an attacker's MAC address with a legitimate IP address, not exhausting DHCP address pools by rapidly requesting IPs with different client IDs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing an attacker sending fake ARP messages to intercept traffic between two hosts on the same subnet, causing man-in-the-middle attacks or denial of service, would make ARP spoofing the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse DHCP starvation with ARP spoofing because both involve MAC addresses and network layer attacks, but the specific mechanism of exhausting DHCP leases is unique to starvation attacks.
✗DNS poisoningWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS poisoning involves corrupting DNS resolver caches to redirect traffic, not exhausting DHCP address pools via rapid requests with varying client IDs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing an attacker modifying DNS records to redirect users to a malicious site, or a scenario where users are being sent to incorrect IP addresses due to compromised DNS data.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse network-layer attacks, thinking that any attack involving IP address manipulation could be DNS-related, or they may not clearly distinguish between DHCP and DNS functions.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing DHCP starvation with MAC flooding, as both involve 'flooding' and MAC addresses, but MAC flooding targets switch CAM tables, not DHCP servers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a DHCP starvation attack exploits the DHCP discover-offer-request-acknowledge (DORA) process by sending discover messages with spoofed chaddr (client hardware address) values, often using a tool like Yersinia or dhcpstarv. The DHCP server, per RFC 2131, treats each unique chaddr as a separate client and allocates an IP address from the pool, leading to exhaustion. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might combine this with a rogue DHCP server to then assign malicious gateway addresses after starving the legitimate server.
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 practitioner preparing for the N10-009 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
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: DHCP starvation attack — A DHCP starvation attack occurs when an attacker sends numerous DHCP discover messages, each with a unique client ID (chaddr), to exhaust the DHCP server's address pool. This prevents legitimate clients from obtaining IP addresses, as the server believes all leases are assigned. The rapid requests with different client IDs from a single MAC address are a hallmark of this attack.
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.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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