N10-009 Network Security Practice Question
During a security audit, a consultant discovers that encrypted traffic between a client and a web server is being decrypted and re-encrypted by an intermediate device on the network path. Which type of attack best describes this scenario?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the method (e.g., ARP poisoning) with the attack type (MITM), or they mistake SSL stripping for any interception of encrypted traffic, not realizing that SSL stripping removes encryption entirely rather than re-encrypting it.
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
✓
Man-in-the-middle
The scenario describes a classic man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack where an intermediary intercepts, decrypts, and re-encrypts traffic between the client and server. This allows the attacker to read or modify the data while both endpoints believe they have a secure TLS session. The key indicator is the decryption and re-encryption step, which is the hallmark of an active MITM proxy.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ARP poisoning
Why it's wrong here
ARP poisoning is a technique where an attacker sends forged Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) messages onto a local area network. This misleads devices into associating the attacker's MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate network device, such as the default gateway or another host. While crucial for redirecting traffic to the attacker's machine, ARP poisoning is a *method* of traffic interception, not the *act* of decrypting and re-encrypting the intercepted data itself, which characterizes an MITM attack.
When this WOULD be correct
ARP poisoning would be correct in a scenario where an attacker sends forged ARP messages to associate their MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate device, causing traffic to be redirected to the attacker without any decryption or re-encryption, such as in a simple traffic interception or denial-of-service attack.
- ✗
SSL stripping
Why it's wrong here
SSL stripping is a specific type of Man-in-the-Middle attack that downgrades an HTTPS connection to an insecure HTTP connection by intercepting the initial connection request. The attacker prevents the client from establishing a secure TLS handshake with the server, forcing plain text communication. The scenario, however, describes the decryption and re-encryption of *encrypted* traffic, implying the connection remains ostensibly secure from the client's perspective, which is a more advanced MITM proxy operation rather than a downgrade to HTTP.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing an attack where a proxy modifies HTTPS links to HTTP in transit, causing the client to communicate over unencrypted HTTP while the proxy maintains HTTPS with the server, would make SSL stripping the correct answer.
- ✓
Man-in-the-middle
Why this is correct
A Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack involves an attacker secretly relaying and possibly altering the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. In the described scenario, the attacker acts as a proxy, intercepting the encrypted traffic, decrypting it to read or modify the contents, and then re-encrypting it before forwarding it to the legitimate destination. This allows the attacker to maintain the illusion of a secure connection for both endpoints while gaining full access to the data.
- ✗
Rogue DHCP
Why it's wrong here
A rogue DHCP server is an unauthorized DHCP server operating on a network, distributing incorrect network configuration parameters to clients. This can include providing a malicious default gateway or DNS server address, thereby redirecting client traffic. However, a rogue DHCP server's primary function is network configuration manipulation, and it does not inherently perform the decryption and re-encryption of encrypted traffic, which is a distinct capability of an active Man-in-the-Middle proxy.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing a user receiving an incorrect default gateway or DNS server from a DHCP server, leading to traffic being redirected to a malicious host, would make rogue DHCP 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.
✓Man-in-the-middleCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack involves an attacker secretly relaying and possibly altering the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. In the described scenario, the attacker acts as a proxy, intercepting the encrypted traffic, decrypting it to read or modify the contents, and then re-encrypting it before forwarding it to the legitimate destination. This allows the attacker to maintain the illusion of a secure connection for both endpoints while gaining full access to the data.
✗ARP poisoningWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
ARP poisoning involves manipulating ARP tables to intercept traffic at layer 2, but it does not inherently decrypt and re-encrypt encrypted traffic; it only redirects traffic. The scenario describes decryption and re-encryption, which is characteristic of a man-in-the-middle attack, not ARP poisoning alone.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
ARP poisoning would be correct in a scenario where an attacker sends forged ARP messages to associate their MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate device, causing traffic to be redirected to the attacker without any decryption or re-encryption, such as in a simple traffic interception or denial-of-service attack.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse ARP poisoning with man-in-the-middle because ARP poisoning is a common technique used to facilitate MITM attacks at the local network level, leading them to select it as the attack type rather than the overarching concept.
✗SSL strippingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SSL stripping downgrades HTTPS to HTTP, but the scenario describes decryption and re-encryption of encrypted traffic, which is characteristic of a man-in-the-middle attack, not SSL stripping.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing an attack where a proxy modifies HTTPS links to HTTP in transit, causing the client to communicate over unencrypted HTTP while the proxy maintains HTTPS with the server, would make SSL stripping the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates confuse SSL stripping with any attack that intercepts encrypted traffic, but SSL stripping specifically downgrades the protocol, not just decrypts and re-encrypts.
✗Rogue DHCPWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Rogue DHCP involves an unauthorized DHCP server assigning IP configurations, not intercepting and re-encrypting traffic. The scenario describes decryption and re-encryption, which is a man-in-the-middle attack, not DHCP-related.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing a user receiving an incorrect default gateway or DNS server from a DHCP server, leading to traffic being redirected to a malicious host, would make rogue DHCP the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse rogue DHCP with man-in-the-middle because both involve intercepting traffic, but rogue DHCP specifically exploits DHCP to redirect traffic, not to decrypt/re-encrypt it.
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?”
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This N10-009 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the N10-009 exam.