Quick Answer
The answer is ARP poisoning. This is correct because ARP poisoning, also known as ARP spoofing, occurs when an attacker sends forged ARP replies to a target network, causing the victim’s ARP cache to map a single IP address to multiple MAC addresses. In a legitimate network, each IP should correspond to exactly one MAC; multiple entries for the same IP indicate that an attacker is intercepting traffic by associating their own MAC with the victim’s IP. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network-based attacks at Layer 2, often appearing in questions about man-in-the-middle attacks or session hijacking. A common trap is confusing this with MAC flooding, which overwhelms a switch’s CAM table rather than corrupting a host’s ARP cache. For a quick memory tip: think “one IP, many MACs equals ARP attack.”
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of malware, social engineering and network attacks. 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 notices that the ARP cache on a workstation contains multiple entries for the same IP address with different MAC addresses. Which attack is likely occurring?
ARP poisoning
ARP poisoning causes multiple MAC entries for one IP due to forged ARP replies.
Session hijacking
Why wrong: Session hijacking steals session tokens, not directly shown in ARP cache.
DNS spoofing
Why wrong: DNS spoofing affects DNS cache, not ARP cache.
MAC flooding
Why wrong: MAC flooding fills CAM table with many MACs, not the same IP with multiple MACs.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ARP poisoning
Multiple MAC addresses for one IP in the ARP cache is a sign of ARP spoofing/poisoning, where an attacker sends forged ARP replies to associate their MAC with the victim's IP.
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.
ARP poisoning
Why this is correct
ARP poisoning causes multiple MAC entries for one IP due to forged ARP replies.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Session hijacking
Why it's wrong here
Session hijacking steals session tokens, not directly shown in ARP cache.
DNS spoofing
MAC flooding
Why it's wrong here
MAC flooding fills CAM table with many MACs, not the same IP with multiple MACs.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Session hijacking steals session tokens, not directly shown in ARP cache.
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
Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks — This question tests Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ARP poisoning — Multiple MAC addresses for one IP in the ARP cache is a sign of ARP spoofing/poisoning, where an attacker sends forged ARP replies to associate their MAC with the victim's IP.
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.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
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. During a penetration test, a security analyst captures network traffic and observes a series of ARP replies without corresponding ARP requests. An internal host's IP address is suddenly associated with two different MAC addresses. Which attack is MOST likely occurring?
mediumWhy D: ARP poisoning (also known as ARP spoofing) involves sending forged ARP replies to associate an IP with a different MAC, enabling MITM attacks. The other options do not fit the ARP reply pattern.
Variation 2. A security analyst captures network traffic and sees a sequence of ARP replies with the same IP address mapping to different MAC addresses within a short period. Which attack is indicated?
hardWhy B: ARP poisoning involves sending spoofed ARP replies to associate an IP with multiple MACs, enabling MITM.
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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