- A
DNS cache poisoning
Why wrong: Cache poisoning injects false records to redirect traffic, not to amplify traffic volume.
- B
DNS amplification
DNS amplification uses small queries to trigger large responses, overwhelming the target with traffic.
- C
DNS tunneling
Why wrong: Tunneling uses DNS to carry other protocols; it does not aim to generate large response volumes.
- D
DNS zone transfer
Why wrong: Zone transfer is a legitimate replication mechanism, not an attack.
Question 215 of 520
N10-009 Network Security Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 detects a large number of DNS queries for the same domain from multiple internal hosts. The responses contain large payloads. Which type of attack is likely 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
✓
DNS amplification
DNS amplification is a type of reflection-based DDoS attack where an attacker sends a small query (e.g., ANY or DNSSEC-signed record request) with a spoofed source IP (the victim's address) to an open DNS resolver. The resolver responds with a large payload (often 50–100x larger than the query), flooding the victim's network. The scenario describes many internal hosts making queries to the same domain and receiving large responses, which matches the amplification effect from a compromised or misconfigured internal resolver.
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.
- ✗
DNS cache poisoning
Why it's wrong here
Cache poisoning injects false records to redirect traffic, not to amplify traffic volume.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing a scenario where users are redirected to a malicious site after a DNS resolver returns incorrect IP addresses, with no mention of large response sizes or multiple internal hosts, would make cache poisoning correct.
- ✓
DNS amplification
Why this is correct
DNS amplification uses small queries to trigger large responses, overwhelming the target with traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
DNS tunneling
Why it's wrong here
Tunneling uses DNS to carry other protocols; it does not aim to generate large response volumes.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing a single host sending many DNS queries to exfiltrate data or establish a command-and-control channel, where the DNS responses contain encoded data, would make DNS tunneling the correct answer.
- ✗
DNS zone transfer
Why it's wrong here
Zone transfer is a legitimate replication mechanism, not an attack.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing an unauthorized attempt to copy the entire DNS zone file from a DNS server to an external host, often using AXFR requests, would make DNS zone transfer the correct answer.
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.
✓DNS amplificationCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
DNS amplification uses small queries to trigger large responses, overwhelming the target with traffic.
✗DNS cache poisoningWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS cache poisoning involves corrupting the resolver's cache with false records, not causing large responses to many queries from internal hosts. The large payloads indicate amplification, not cache manipulation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing a scenario where users are redirected to a malicious site after a DNS resolver returns incorrect IP addresses, with no mention of large response sizes or multiple internal hosts, would make cache poisoning correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse any DNS-based attack with cache poisoning, especially if they recall it as a common threat, without recognizing the specific indicator of large response payloads characteristic of amplification.
✗DNS tunnelingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS tunneling typically involves encoding data in DNS queries or responses for covert communication, not large payloads from many hosts querying the same domain. The scenario describes many hosts querying the same domain with large responses, which is characteristic of amplification, not tunneling.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing a single host sending many DNS queries to exfiltrate data or establish a command-and-control channel, where the DNS responses contain encoded data, would make DNS tunneling the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the large payloads in DNS responses with data exfiltration or covert channels, leading them to think of tunneling instead of the amplification attack's reflection and amplification characteristics.
✗DNS zone transferWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS zone transfer is a mechanism for replicating DNS databases between servers, not an attack that generates many queries with large payloads from internal hosts.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing an unauthorized attempt to copy the entire DNS zone file from a DNS server to an external host, often using AXFR requests, would make DNS zone transfer the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the term 'zone transfer' with any large-scale DNS data movement, or mistakenly think that large payloads imply data exfiltration via zone transfers.
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
CompTIA often tests the distinction between DNS amplification and DNS cache poisoning by describing 'large payloads' and 'many hosts' — the trap is that candidates confuse the reflection/amplification mechanism with the cache corruption of poisoning, but amplification focuses on traffic volume, not record integrity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a DNS amplification attack, the attacker typically uses a query type like ANY (RFC 8482 deprecates ANY, but many resolvers still respond) or DNSSEC-signed records (e.g., RRSIG, NSEC3) to maximize the response size. The amplification factor can exceed 50:1, and the attacker often leverages open resolvers on the internet; however, in this internal scenario, a compromised internal DNS server or a misconfigured forwarder could be used to amplify traffic toward internal hosts. Real-world examples include the 2016 Dyn DDoS attack, which used DNS amplification via the Mirai botnet.
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
Common DNS Record Types
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address mapping | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address mapping | example.com → 2606:2800::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another hostname | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server for domain | example.com → mail.example.com (priority 10) |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all |
| NS | Authoritative name servers | example.com NS ns1.example.com |
| PTR | Reverse DNS (IP → hostname) | 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com |
| SOA | Zone authority record | Primary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults |
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: DNS amplification — DNS amplification is a type of reflection-based DDoS attack where an attacker sends a small query (e.g., ANY or DNSSEC-signed record request) with a spoofed source IP (the victim's address) to an open DNS resolver. The resolver responds with a large payload (often 50–100x larger than the query), flooding the victim's network. The scenario describes many internal hosts making queries to the same domain and receiving large responses, which matches the amplification effect from a compromised or misconfigured internal resolver.
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
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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