Quick Answer
The answer is that this traffic pattern indicates the WPA2 4-way handshake exchange is complete. The TCP three-way handshake you see—SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK—is the transport-layer setup for the EAPOL frames carrying the actual WPA2 handshake messages; the encrypted payload immediately following confirms the fourth message (the ACK for the GTK) has been sent, meaning the supplicant has installed the keys and the handshake is finished. On the CEH exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between the TCP handshake and the WPA2 4-way handshake—a common trap is confusing the two, but remember that the WPA2 handshake uses EAPOL frames over UDP or Ethernet, not TCP. A key memory tip: the TCP handshake is the “door opening,” while the encrypted payload is the “door locking”—if you see encrypted data right after the TCP ACK, the 4-way handshake is done.
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of advanced topics: wireless, cloud, iot, cryptography. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 captures network traffic and sees the following: Client sends a SYN, server responds with SYN-ACK, then client sends ACK. Immediately after, the client sends an encrypted payload. This traffic is consistent with which phase of a WPA2 attack?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
De-authentication attack
Why wrong: De-auth uses deauth packets, not TCP-like handshake.
WPA2 4-way handshake exchange
The sequence matches the 4-way handshake: first two messages (nonces) then third (encrypted GTK) and fourth (ACK).
WPS PIN exchange
Why wrong: WPS uses EAP messages, not TCP handshake.
WEP initialization vector capture
Why wrong: WEP uses IVs, not a 4-way handshake.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
WPA2 4-way handshake exchange
The TCP handshake shown is for the 4-way handshake messages: first two messages (AP nonce and supplicant nonce) are exchanged, then the third message is the encrypted GTK, followed by ACK. The encrypted payload indicates the handshake is complete.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
De-authentication attack
Why it's wrong here
De-auth uses deauth packets, not TCP-like handshake.
WPA2 4-way handshake exchange
Why this is correct
The sequence matches the 4-way handshake: first two messages (nonces) then third (encrypted GTK) and fourth (ACK).
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
WPS PIN exchange
Why it's wrong here
WPS uses EAP messages, not TCP handshake.
WEP initialization vector capture
Why it's wrong here
WEP uses IVs, not a 4-way handshake.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CEH 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.
What to study next
Identify which CEH exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Advanced Topics: Wireless, Cloud, IoT, Cryptography — This question tests Advanced Topics: Wireless, Cloud, IoT, Cryptography — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: WPA2 4-way handshake exchange — The TCP handshake shown is for the 4-way handshake messages: first two messages (AP nonce and supplicant nonce) are exchanged, then the third message is the encrypted GTK, followed by ACK. The encrypted payload indicates the handshake is complete.
Identify which CEH exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This CEH practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CEH exam.
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