Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Several users on the same subnet report intermittent loss of access to the default gateway. A packet capture shows repeated unsolicited ARP replies mapping the gateway IP address to a different MAC address. Traffic is occasionally sent through an unknown workstation. What attack is most likely occurring?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
ARP poisoning
ARP poisoning forges address resolution replies so victims map the gateway IP to the attacker MAC.
B
Distractor review
DNS cache poisoning
DNS cache poisoning alters name-to-IP records, not Layer 2 ARP mappings on a local subnet.
C
Distractor review
Replay attack
A replay attack reuses captured authentication or transaction data, which is not what the capture shows.
D
Distractor review
Amplification attack
Amplification floods a target using reflected traffic, not forged ARP responses on a LAN.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ARP poisoning — The packet capture shows classic ARP poisoning. ARP is used on a local network to associate IP addresses with MAC addresses, and attackers can send forged replies to make victims send traffic to the wrong device. That can support man-in-the-middle interception, credential theft, or simple traffic disruption. The clue that traffic sometimes goes through an unknown workstation is a strong indicator that the attacker has inserted themselves into the path. Why others are wrong: DNS cache poisoning would affect domain name resolution, not direct gateway-to-MAC mappings on the local subnet. A replay attack would involve reusing captured valid traffic such as authentication tokens or session messages. An amplification attack is a denial-of-service technique that uses reflected traffic to overwhelm a target, which does not match the ARP reply behavior described.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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