Quick Answer
The correct answer is a SYN flood attack because the server is sending a high volume of SYN packets without completing the TCP three-way handshake, which is the hallmark of this denial-of-service technique. In a SYN flood, the attacker’s machine bombards a target with initial connection requests, exhausting the target’s backlog queue by never sending the final ACK, leaving half-open connections that consume resources. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this scenario tests your understanding of TCP state exhaustion and the distinction between being the victim versus the source of an attack—a common trap is assuming the server is under attack when it is actually the launch point. Memory tip: think of the “half-open handshake” as a handshake that never shakes back—SYN sent, SYN-ACK received, but no final ACK, leaving the target hanging.
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 a server is sending an unusually high number of SYN packets to multiple external hosts, but the connections are never completed. The server is most likely involved in which type of attack?
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.
Clue: "never"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
Ping of Death
Why wrong: Ping of Death sends oversized ICMP packets, not SYN packets.
Smurf attack
Why wrong: Smurf uses ICMP echo requests to broadcast addresses, not SYN packets.
UDP flood
Why wrong: UDP flood uses UDP packets, not TCP SYN packets.
SYN flood
Correct. A SYN flood sends many SYN packets with no final ACK, overwhelming the target.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SYN flood
A SYN flood sends many SYN packets without completing the handshake, exhausting target resources. The attacker's server is the source, indicating it is being used to launch the attack.
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.
Ping of Death
Why it's wrong here
Ping of Death sends oversized ICMP packets, not SYN packets.
Smurf attack
Why it's wrong here
Smurf uses ICMP echo requests to broadcast addresses, not SYN packets.
UDP flood
SYN flood
Why this is correct
Correct. A SYN flood sends many SYN packets with no final ACK, overwhelming the target.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "most likely", "never" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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: SYN flood — A SYN flood sends many SYN packets without completing the handshake, exhausting target resources. The attacker's server is the source, indicating it is being used to launch the attack.
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.
Yes — watch for: "most likely", "never". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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. A security analyst notices repeated TCP SYN packets sent to a server without corresponding SYN-ACK replies. The source IP addresses are spoofed and appear to be random. Which type of attack is MOST likely occurring?
mediumWhy A: SYN flood attacks exploit the TCP three-way handshake by sending many SYN requests with spoofed IPs, exhausting the server's connection queue.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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