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Network and Web Application Attacks →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

CEH Network and Web Application Attacks Practice Question

This CEH practice question tests your understanding of network and web application attacks. 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.

Exhibit

# /etc/nginx/nginx.conf (snippet)
location /admin {
    satisfy any;
    allow 192.168.1.0/24;
    deny all;
    auth_basic "Admin Area";
    auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/.htpasswd;
}

# Access log entry
192.168.2.10 - admin [10/Oct/2023:13:55:36 +0000] "GET /admin HTTP/1.1" 401 188

Refer to the exhibit. A security auditor reviews the Nginx configuration and access log. Why was the request from 192.168.2.10 rejected with 401?

Exhibit

# /etc/nginx/nginx.conf (snippet)
location /admin {
    satisfy any;
    allow 192.168.1.0/24;
    deny all;
    auth_basic "Admin Area";
    auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/.htpasswd;
}

# Access log entry
192.168.2.10 - admin [10/Oct/2023:13:55:36 +0000] "GET /admin HTTP/1.1" 401 188

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

The user 'admin' provided incorrect credentials.

Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.

Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.

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 user 'admin' provided incorrect credentials.

    Why this is correct

    The 'satisfy any' directive means either IP allow OR valid auth grants access. Since IP is denied, auth is required, and a 401 indicates failed auth.

    Related concept

    CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

  • ✗

    The IP address 192.168.2.10 is not in the allowed subnet.

    Why it's wrong here

    Although the IP is not allowed, the 401 indicates authentication failure, not IP denial.

  • ✗

    The 'deny all' directive overrides the 'allow' directive.

    Why it's wrong here

    'satisfy any' means either condition can grant access; IP allow would work if IP matched.

  • ✗

    The .htpasswd file is missing or misconfigured.

    Why it's wrong here

    If the file were missing, Nginx would return a 500 error, not 401.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses

Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
  • Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
  • Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
  • The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.

TExam Day Tips

  • Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
  • Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
  • Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.

Key takeaway

Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related CEH subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this CEH question test?

Network and Web Application Attacks — This question tests Network and Web Application Attacks — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The user 'admin' provided incorrect credentials.

What should I do if I get this CEH question wrong?

Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related CEH subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.

What is the key concept behind this question?

CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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.