The answer is to set up a rogue RADIUS server to capture the challenge-response and perform an offline brute-force attack. This works because WPA2-Enterprise with PEAP-MSCHAPv2 relies on a challenge-response handshake between the client and a legitimate RADIUS server; by impersonating that server, you intercept the challenge and the client’s encrypted response, which is derived from the user’s password hash. Offline, you can brute-force that MSCHAPv2 hash to recover the domain credentials without needing to interact with the live network again. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this scenario tests your understanding of wireless authentication weaknesses and the distinction between online attacks (which trigger alerts) and offline cracking. A common trap is confusing this with a simple deauthentication attack or WPA2-PSK cracking—remember, PEAP-MSCHAPv2 requires capturing the RADIUS exchange, not just the four-way handshake. Memory tip: “Rogue RADIUS, offline hash—PEAP’s password falls in a flash.”
CEH Wireless, IoT and Cloud Security Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of wireless, iot and cloud security. 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.
During a wireless penetration test, you discover that the target network uses WPA2-Enterprise with PEAP-MSCHAPv2. You capture the authentication traffic of a legitimate user. Which attack can you perform to recover the user's domain credentials?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set up a rogue RADIUS server to capture the challenge-response and perform an offline brute-force attack.
In WPA2-Enterprise with PEAP-MSCHAPv2, the authentication is based on a challenge-response mechanism between the client and a RADIUS server. By setting up a rogue RADIUS server, you can capture the challenge and the client's encrypted response, then perform an offline brute-force attack against the MSCHAPv2 hash to recover the user's domain credentials. This works because the MSCHAPv2 response is derived from the user's password and can be cracked offline.
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.
✗
Decrypt the traffic using the captured handshake to get the credentials.
Why it's wrong here
You need the PMK to decrypt.
✗
WPS PIN brute-force to recover the PSK.
Why it's wrong here
WPS is not relevant to Enterprise.
✗
PMKID attack to crack the pre-shared key.
Why it's wrong here
PMKID is for Personal mode.
✓
Set up a rogue RADIUS server to capture the challenge-response and perform an offline brute-force attack.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse WPA2-Enterprise with WPA2-Personal and incorrectly apply attacks like PMKID or handshake decryption, not realizing that enterprise mode relies on RADIUS-based authentication and is vulnerable to rogue server attacks rather than PSK cracking.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PEAP-MSCHAPv2 uses a TLS tunnel to protect the inner authentication, but the challenge and response are still exchanged within that tunnel; a rogue RADIUS server can terminate the TLS tunnel and capture the MSCHAPv2 challenge-response pair. The MSCHAPv2 response is a hash of the user's password, the challenge, and the peer challenge, which can be cracked offline using tools like asleap or john with a dictionary or brute-force attack. In real-world scenarios, this attack is often combined with a rogue access point to force clients to authenticate to the attacker's RADIUS server, bypassing the need for physical proximity to the legitimate network.
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.
Wireless, IoT and Cloud Security — This question tests Wireless, IoT and Cloud Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set up a rogue RADIUS server to capture the challenge-response and perform an offline brute-force attack. — In WPA2-Enterprise with PEAP-MSCHAPv2, the authentication is based on a challenge-response mechanism between the client and a RADIUS server. By setting up a rogue RADIUS server, you can capture the challenge and the client's encrypted response, then perform an offline brute-force attack against the MSCHAPv2 hash to recover the user's domain credentials. This works because the MSCHAPv2 response is derived from the user's password and can be cracked offline.
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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Question Discussion
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