The answer is dnsrecon. This tool is best suited for DNS enumeration without zone transfer because it systematically queries multiple record types—A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, SOA, SRV, and TXT—while also brute-forcing subdomains and enumerating SRV records, all without ever attempting a full AXFR transfer. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this question tests your understanding of passive and active reconnaissance techniques, specifically how to gather DNS intelligence stealthily when zone transfers are blocked. A common trap is choosing nslookup or dig, which rely on zone transfers for complete records, or tools like fierce that are less comprehensive. Remember the memory tip: dnsrecon is the “Swiss Army knife” for DNS recon—it does everything except the forbidden AXFR handshake.
CEH Footprinting, Reconnaissance and Scanning Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of footprinting, reconnaissance and scanning. 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 wants to discover all DNS records associated with a domain without triggering a full zone transfer. Which tool is BEST suited for this task?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
dnsrecon
D (dnsrecon) is correct because it is a dedicated DNS enumeration tool that performs multiple types of DNS record queries (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, SOA, SRV, TXT, etc.) using techniques like brute‑forcing subdomains and performing SRV record enumeration, all without attempting a full zone transfer (AXFR). It is specifically designed for reconnaissance and can discover hidden or non‑obvious DNS records efficiently.
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.
✗
theHarvester
Why it's wrong here
theHarvester gathers emails, subdomains, and IPs from public sources but does not directly perform DNS record enumeration.
✗
dig
Why it's wrong here
dig is a flexible DNS query tool but typically used for single queries; dnsrecon automates enumeration.
✗
nslookup
Why it's wrong here
nslookup is a basic query tool but not specifically designed for enumeration across multiple record types and subdomain brute-forcing.
✓
dnsrecon
Why this is correct
dnsrecon is a powerful DNS enumeration script that can query multiple record types and perform subdomain brute-forcing.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that nslookup or dig are sufficient for comprehensive DNS discovery, but the question specifically asks for a tool that discovers *all* DNS records without a zone transfer, which requires automated enumeration beyond single‑query tools.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
dnsrecon leverages Python’s dnspython library to send multiple DNS query types (e.g., ANY, AXFR, SRV, TXT) and can perform dictionary‑based subdomain brute‑forcing against the target domain. In real‑world engagements, it is often used to map out a target’s attack surface by discovering services like SIP (SRV records for VoIP) or Microsoft Exchange (SRV _autodiscover), which are not revealed by a simple A or MX query. The tool also supports DNSSEC zone walking (RFC 5155) to enumerate records when NSEC records are used.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CEH question in full detail.
Footprinting, Reconnaissance and Scanning — This question tests Footprinting, Reconnaissance and Scanning — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: dnsrecon — D (dnsrecon) is correct because it is a dedicated DNS enumeration tool that performs multiple types of DNS record queries (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, SOA, SRV, TXT, etc.) using techniques like brute‑forcing subdomains and performing SRV record enumeration, all without attempting a full zone transfer (AXFR). It is specifically designed for reconnaissance and can discover hidden or non‑obvious DNS records efficiently.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An analyst runs the following command: dnsenum --enum example.com. Which of the following actions is dnsenum performing?
medium
✓ A.Attempts a zone transfer and brute-forces subdomains
B.Scans for open ports on the DNS server
C.Queries the DNS server for its version information
D.Performs a reverse DNS lookup to find PTR records for the IP range
Why A: The `dnsenum` tool is designed for DNS enumeration, and its `--enum` flag performs a comprehensive scan that includes attempting a zone transfer (AXFR query) to retrieve all DNS records from the nameserver, and if that fails, it brute-forces subdomains using a wordlist. This matches option A exactly.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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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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