- A
DNS poisoning, because the hostname is resolving to the wrong server.
Why wrong: DNS poisoning affects name resolution records, but the evidence here is specifically about ARP mappings for the gateway.
- B
ARP spoofing, because false Layer 2 address mappings are redirecting traffic.
ARP spoofing, also called ARP poisoning, happens when a host sends forged ARP messages that associate a target IP address with the attacker’s MAC address. In this case, the gateway IP is repeatedly being mapped to a workstation MAC, and traffic is being relayed through that workstation. That is a classic man-in-the-middle setup on a local network segment.
- C
Replay attack, because packets are being resent to the gateway.
Why wrong: Replay attacks reuse captured authentication or transaction data, but the key issue here is address mapping manipulation, not repeated packet reuse.
- D
Rogue DHCP service, because clients are losing access to the default gateway.
Why wrong: A rogue DHCP server would hand out bad network settings to clients, but the capture points to forged ARP replies on an active subnet.
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.
Users on a wired subnet report intermittent outages when reaching an internal application. A packet capture shows the default gateway IP address repeatedly mapped to a different workstation MAC address, and traffic is being forwarded through that workstation. 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
ARP spoofing, because false Layer 2 address mappings are redirecting traffic.
B is correct because ARP spoofing (also known as ARP poisoning) involves an attacker sending forged ARP messages over a local area network. This results in the attacker's MAC address being associated with the IP address of the default gateway, causing traffic destined for the gateway to be forwarded to the attacker's workstation instead. The packet capture evidence of the default gateway IP repeatedly mapped to a different workstation MAC address is the classic signature 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.
- ✗
DNS poisoning, because the hostname is resolving to the wrong server.
- ✓
ARP spoofing, because false Layer 2 address mappings are redirecting traffic.
Why this is correct
ARP spoofing, also called ARP poisoning, happens when a host sends forged ARP messages that associate a target IP address with the attacker’s MAC address. In this case, the gateway IP is repeatedly being mapped to a workstation MAC, and traffic is being relayed through that workstation. That is a classic man-in-the-middle setup on a local network segment.
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 packets are being resent to the gateway.
Why it's wrong here
Replay attacks reuse captured authentication or transaction data, but the key issue here is address mapping manipulation, not repeated packet reuse.
- ✗
Rogue DHCP service, because clients are losing access to the default gateway.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse ARP spoofing with DNS poisoning because both involve redirecting traffic, but ARP spoofing operates at Layer 2 (MAC address manipulation) while DNS poisoning operates at Layer 7 (hostname resolution).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ARP spoofing exploits the stateless and trust-based nature of the ARP protocol (RFC 826), where any host can send an unsolicited ARP reply (gratuitous ARP) to update another host's ARP cache without prior request. In a real-world scenario, an attacker can use tools like arpspoof or Ettercap to perform a man-in-the-middle attack, intercepting and potentially modifying traffic between the victim and the gateway. This attack is particularly effective on flat Layer 2 networks without port security or dynamic ARP inspection (DAI) enabled on switches.
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: ARP spoofing, because false Layer 2 address mappings are redirecting traffic. — B is correct because ARP spoofing (also known as ARP poisoning) involves an attacker sending forged ARP messages over a local area network. This results in the attacker's MAC address being associated with the IP address of the default gateway, causing traffic destined for the gateway to be forwarded to the attacker's workstation instead. The packet capture evidence of the default gateway IP repeatedly mapped to a different workstation MAC address is the classic signature of this attack.
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.
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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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