The answer is explorer.exe (PID 1234) because netstat output reveals a suspicious outbound connection to an unknown external IP on port 4444, a non-standard port commonly used for reverse shells, and this connection is tied to PID 1234. When you use netstat to identify malicious process activity, you must cross-reference the PID with Task Manager; here, explorer.exe is the process behind that PID, which is highly abnormal since the Windows shell should not be making outbound network connections. This scenario tests your ability to spot process injection or DLL hijacking, a key skill for the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam where attackers hide malicious traffic inside trusted system processes. A common trap is dismissing explorer.exe as benign, but any legitimate process binding to a high-risk port like 4444 is a red flag. Memory tip: “Shells don’t sail—if explorer.exe is on port 4444, it’s a beacon, not a browser.”
CEH Cryptography and Malware Analysis Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of cryptography and malware analysis. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
C:\Users\Admin>netstat -anob
Active Connections
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State PID
TCP 192.168.1.10:49152 203.0.113.5:4444 ESTABLISHED 1234
TCP 192.168.1.10:49153 198.51.100.20:80 TIME_WAIT 5678
[svchost.exe]
TCP 192.168.1.10:49154 203.0.113.5:4444 ESTABLISHED 1234
[explorer.exe]
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst runs netstat on a compromised Windows machine. Based on the output, which process is most likely associated with the malicious activity?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
C:\Users\Admin>netstat -anob
Active Connections
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State PID
TCP 192.168.1.10:49152 203.0.113.5:4444 ESTABLISHED 1234
TCP 192.168.1.10:49153 198.51.100.20:80 TIME_WAIT 5678
[svchost.exe]
TCP 192.168.1.10:49154 203.0.113.5:4444 ESTABLISHED 1234
[explorer.exe]
A
The process with PID 1234 is not identified
Why wrong: It is identified as explorer.exe from the last line.
B
explorer.exe (PID 1234)
Explorer.exe is making connections to a suspicious IP on port 4444, which is abnormal.
C
svchost.exe (PID 5678)
Why wrong: svchost.exe connection is to port 80 (HTTP) and is in TIME_WAIT, less suspicious.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
explorer.exe (PID 1234)
Option B is correct because netstat output showing a suspicious external connection (e.g., to an unknown IP on port 4444) associated with PID 1234, which is identified as explorer.exe, indicates that the Windows shell process has been hijacked or injected with malicious code. Explorer.exe is not a typical network-listening process; its involvement in outbound connections to a non-standard port strongly suggests malware has injected a reverse shell or beacon into this legitimate system process to evade detection.
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.
✗
The process with PID 1234 is not identified
Why it's wrong here
It is identified as explorer.exe from the last line.
✓
explorer.exe (PID 1234)
Why this is correct
Explorer.exe is making connections to a suspicious IP on port 4444, which is abnormal.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
svchost.exe (PID 5678)
Why it's wrong here
svchost.exe connection is to port 80 (HTTP) and is in TIME_WAIT, less suspicious.
✗
The process with PID 5678 is not identified
Why it's wrong here
It is identified as svchost.exe.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that svchost.exe is always the malicious process because it hosts many services, but the trap here is that explorer.exe can be hijacked for persistence and network communication, and candidates fail to recognize that a legitimate-looking process name does not guarantee it is benign.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Netstat with the -b or -o flag displays the executable name and PID for each active connection; in this scenario, explorer.exe (PID 1234) shows an established TCP connection to a remote IP on port 4444, a common port for reverse shells (e.g., Metasploit payloads). Under the hood, malware often performs DLL injection or process hollowing into explorer.exe to blend in with normal system activity, as security tools may overlook network connections from trusted processes. In real-world investigations, analysts use 'netstat -ano' to find anomalous PIDs, then cross-reference with Task Manager or 'tasklist /svc' to identify injected processes.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CEH question in full detail.
Cryptography and Malware Analysis — This question tests Cryptography and Malware Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: explorer.exe (PID 1234) — Option B is correct because netstat output showing a suspicious external connection (e.g., to an unknown IP on port 4444) associated with PID 1234, which is identified as explorer.exe, indicates that the Windows shell process has been hijacked or injected with malicious code. Explorer.exe is not a typical network-listening process; its involvement in outbound connections to a non-standard port strongly suggests malware has injected a reverse shell or beacon into this legitimate system process to evade detection.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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