CEH Enumeration and System Hacking Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of enumeration and system hacking. 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 runs `nbtstat -A 192.168.1.10` and receives a response with the computer name, logged-in user, and domain. Which protocol is being queried?
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
NetBIOS
The `nbtstat -A` command performs a NetBIOS name service query (NBNS) against the target IP address using UDP port 137. It retrieves the NetBIOS name table, which includes the computer name, logged-in user, and domain membership, directly from the NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) protocol stack.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse `nbtstat -A` (which queries NetBIOS over TCP/IP) with `nbtstat -a` (which queries by name) or assume it uses a different protocol like SMB, but the command specifically targets the NetBIOS name service on UDP 137.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NetBIOS name service (NBNS) is part of the NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) suite defined in RFC 1001/1002. The `-A` flag sends a NetBIOS status query to the target, which responds with its name table containing up to 16-character names, including the unique computer name (type 00), logged-in user (type 03), and domain/group name (type 1C). This is a legacy protocol still present in Windows networks for backward compatibility, often exploited in penetration testing to enumerate users without authentication.
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 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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CEH question test?
Enumeration and System Hacking — This question tests Enumeration and System Hacking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: NetBIOS — The `nbtstat -A` command performs a NetBIOS name service query (NBNS) against the target IP address using UDP port 137. It retrieves the NetBIOS name table, which includes the computer name, logged-in user, and domain membership, directly from the NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) protocol stack.
What should I do if I get this CEH question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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