This CEH practice question tests your understanding of enumeration and system hacking. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 an internal penetration test, an analyst uses `enum4linux -a 10.0.0.5` and retrieves a list of local users, including an account named 'sqlsvc'. The analyst then attempts to crack the password using a dictionary attack. Which password cracking tool would be most efficient for this task?
RainbowCrack
Why wrong: RainbowCrack uses precomputed rainbow tables, not live dictionary attacks.
SNMPwalk
Why wrong: SNMPwalk is an enumeration tool, not a password cracker.
John the Ripper
John the Ripper supports dictionary attacks on many hash types, including those from SMB.
Ophcrack
Why wrong: Ophcrack is specialized for LM/NTLM hashes using rainbow tables.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
John the Ripper
John the Ripper is the most efficient tool for performing a dictionary attack against password hashes retrieved from a system, such as those obtained from the SAM database or via enum4linux. It supports a wide range of hash types and can be configured to use custom wordlists, making it ideal for cracking the 'sqlsvc' account password in an internal penetration test.
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.
RainbowCrack
Why it's wrong here
RainbowCrack uses precomputed rainbow tables, not live dictionary attacks.
SNMPwalk
Why it's wrong here
SNMPwalk is an enumeration tool, not a password cracker.
John the Ripper
Why this is correct
John the Ripper supports dictionary attacks on many hash types, including those from SMB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Ophcrack
Why it's wrong here
Ophcrack is specialized for LM/NTLM hashes using rainbow tables.
Common exam traps
EC-Council often tests the distinction between dictionary attacks and rainbow table attacks, leading candidates to choose RainbowCrack or Ophcrack when the question explicitly specifies a dictionary attack method.
Detailed technical explanation
John the Ripper operates by iterating through a wordlist, hashing each candidate with the appropriate algorithm (e.g., NTLM for Windows), and comparing against the target hash. It supports incremental mode, rules-based mangling, and can leverage GPU acceleration for faster cracking. In a real-world scenario, an analyst might combine enum4linux output with a custom wordlist containing common service account patterns (e.g., 'sqlsvc' often uses weak passwords like 'sqlsvc123').
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Enumeration and System Hacking — This question tests Enumeration and System Hacking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: John the Ripper — John the Ripper is the most efficient tool for performing a dictionary attack against password hashes retrieved from a system, such as those obtained from the SAM database or via enum4linux. It supports a wide range of hash types and can be configured to use custom wordlists, making it ideal for cracking the 'sqlsvc' account password in an internal penetration test.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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