CEH Practice Question: Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks
A security analyst runs 'strings malware.exe' and finds several URLs and IP addresses. The analyst then uploads the file to VirusTotal and gets a detection ratio of 5/70. What type of analysis has been performed?
⚠ Common exam trap
EC-CEH often tests the distinction between static and dynamic analysis by describing actions that involve file inspection (like 'strings' and VirusTotal uploads) and expecting candidates to recognize that no execution occurred, thus ruling out dynamic analysis.
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
✓
Static analysis
The analyst used the 'strings' command to extract readable text from the binary without executing it, and then uploaded the file to VirusTotal for signature-based scanning. Both actions examine the file's static properties (embedded strings, hash-based detection) without running the code, which defines static analysis. Dynamic analysis would require executing the malware in a sandbox to observe runtime behavior.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Static analysis
Why this is correct
Extracting printable strings from a binary without executing it is static analysis, satisfying the stem's non-execution constraint. VirusTotal scanning inspects the file's bytes and signatures rather than running it, so both techniques remain static. Dynamic analysis would require executing malware.exe in a sandbox and observing runtime behaviour such as network connections.
- ✗
Memory analysis
Why it's wrong here
Memory analysis inspects volatile RAM from a running or captured system, whereas this analyst only read static file contents and queried a cloud reputation service. It is tempting because memory analysis is the correct choice when investigating injected code or non-persistent artefacts in a live host's memory.
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Reverse engineering
Why it's wrong here
Reverse engineering disassembles or decompiles code to recover logic and structure; running strings and checking VirusTotal detection ratios reveals no program instructions. It is tempting because reverse engineering is correct when an analyst must understand obfuscated functionality or extract hardcoded configuration from a binary.
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Dynamic analysis
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic analysis executes the sample in a sandbox and observes runtime behaviour such as network calls or registry writes; here the file was never run. It is tempting because dynamic analysis is the right approach when static strings are insufficient and the malware's live actions must be captured.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.