- A
ARP poisoning, because the attacker is changing IP-to-MAC mappings on the local network.
Why wrong: ARP poisoning targets address resolution between IP and MAC addresses. This scenario is about fake DHCP offers and an incorrect gateway assignment, which occurs before ARP is involved.
- B
Rogue DHCP service, because an unauthorized DHCP server is handing out network settings.
A rogue DHCP service is the best answer. The clients receive valid-looking leases from an unauthorized device, and the device supplies the default gateway before the legitimate server can respond. This is a common and dangerous network attack because it can redirect traffic, enable interception, or break connectivity without requiring packet spoofing at the ARP layer.
- C
Replay attack, because the attacker is reusing old DHCP offers.
Why wrong: Replay attacks involve capturing and retransmitting valid traffic. The scenario instead points to a live unauthorized DHCP responder, not a reused historical packet set.
- D
DNS poisoning, because the clients are being sent to the wrong network path.
Why wrong: DNS poisoning alters name resolution to misdirect clients to malicious hostnames or addresses. Here the wrong default gateway is being assigned directly by a fake DHCP server, so the issue is earlier in the network configuration process.
Quick Answer
The answer is a rogue DHCP server attack. This is correct because the scenario describes an unauthorized device responding to DHCP discovery messages faster than the legitimate server, assigning valid IP addresses but a malicious default gateway of 10.20.40.50, which enables a man-in-the-middle attack. The packet capture confirming DHCP offers from an unknown MAC address directly identifies the rogue DHCP service, as the attacker intercepts traffic to manipulate client network settings. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this question tests your ability to recognize DHCP spoofing in a post-reboot scenario where speed of response is the key indicator—the rogue server wins the race condition. A common trap is assuming a valid IP means no attack, but the altered gateway is the red flag. Memory tip: “Faster offer, wrong gateway—think rogue DHCP betrayer.”
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
After a switch reboot in a conference room, several laptops obtain valid IP addresses in the correct subnet, but their default gateway changes to 10.20.40.50, which is not the legitimate router. Packet capture shows DHCP offers coming from a MAC address that does not belong to the approved DHCP server, and the rogue device responds faster than the real server. What attack is most likely occurring?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
Rogue DHCP service, because an unauthorized DHCP server is handing out network settings.
The scenario describes an unauthorized device responding to DHCP discovery messages faster than the legitimate server, assigning valid IPs but a rogue default gateway (10.20.40.50). This is the classic behavior of a rogue DHCP server, which intercepts DHCP traffic to manipulate client network settings, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks. The packet capture confirming DHCP offers from an unknown MAC address directly identifies the attack as a Rogue DHCP service.
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.
- ✗
ARP poisoning, because the attacker is changing IP-to-MAC mappings on the local network.
- ✓
Rogue DHCP service, because an unauthorized DHCP server is handing out network settings.
Why this is correct
A rogue DHCP service is the best answer. The clients receive valid-looking leases from an unauthorized device, and the device supplies the default gateway before the legitimate server can respond. This is a common and dangerous network attack because it can redirect traffic, enable interception, or break connectivity without requiring packet spoofing at the ARP layer.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Replay attack, because the attacker is reusing old DHCP offers.
Why it's wrong here
Replay attacks involve capturing and retransmitting valid traffic. The scenario instead points to a live unauthorized DHCP responder, not a reused historical packet set.
- ✗
DNS poisoning, because the clients are being sent to the wrong network path.
Why it's wrong here
DNS poisoning alters name resolution to misdirect clients to malicious hostnames or addresses. Here the wrong default gateway is being assigned directly by a fake DHCP server, so the issue is earlier in the network configuration process.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the symptom (wrong gateway) with ARP poisoning or DNS attacks, but the key clue is the DHCP offer source and the faster response time, which uniquely identifies a rogue DHCP server.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
ARP poisoning targets address resolution between IP and MAC addresses. This scenario is about fake DHCP offers and an incorrect gateway assignment, which occurs before ARP is involved.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a rogue DHCP attack, the attacker runs a DHCP server that responds to DHCP DISCOVER broadcasts before the legitimate server, often using a tool like `dhcpstarv` or `Yersinia`. The rogue server assigns a fake default gateway (e.g., 10.20.40.50) to intercept traffic, which can then be forwarded to the real gateway after inspection. This attack exploits the lack of authentication in DHCP (RFC 2131), as clients accept the first offer received, making speed the attacker's advantage.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rogue DHCP service, because an unauthorized DHCP server is handing out network settings. — The scenario describes an unauthorized device responding to DHCP discovery messages faster than the legitimate server, assigning valid IPs but a rogue default gateway (10.20.40.50). This is the classic behavior of a rogue DHCP server, which intercepts DHCP traffic to manipulate client network settings, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks. The packet capture confirming DHCP offers from an unknown MAC address directly identifies the attack as a Rogue DHCP service.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 11, 2026
This SY0-701 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 SY0-701 exam.
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