Quick Answer
The answer is cracking passwords, as it is one of the core phases in the system hacking methodology CHPSET, which stands for Cracking, Hacking, Privilege Escalation, System Hacking, Erasing Tracks, and Tunneling. This methodology is central to the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam because it maps the logical progression an attacker follows after gaining initial access: first cracking password hashes or using brute-force techniques to obtain credentials, then moving through privilege escalation and deeper system control. On the exam, you will often see CHPSET tested in multiple-choice questions that ask you to identify valid phases or techniques, with common traps including confusing "scanning" or "enumeration" as part of the methodology—those belong to earlier reconnaissance phases, not the system hacking phase itself. A helpful memory tip is to think of the acronym as "Crack, Hack, Pwn, System, Erase, Tunnel," where the first step always involves breaking password security to escalate your foothold.
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of enumeration and system hacking. 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.
Which THREE of the following are valid techniques in the system hacking methodology (CHPSET)? (Choose three.)
Social engineering
Why wrong: Social engineering is an attack vector but not part of the system hacking methodology.
Network sniffing
Why wrong: Network sniffing is a separate technique, not in CHPSET.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Privilege escalation
Privilege escalation is a core phase in the CEH system hacking methodology (CHPSET), which stands for Cracking, Hacking, Privilege Escalation, System Hacking, Erasing Tracks, and Tunneling. After initial access is gained, an attacker must escalate privileges (e.g., from a standard user to root or SYSTEM) to gain full control over the target system. This is achieved through techniques like exploiting kernel vulnerabilities, token manipulation, or using tools such as Metasploit's getsystem.
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.
Social engineering
Why it's wrong here
Social engineering is an attack vector but not part of the system hacking methodology.
Network sniffing
Why it's wrong here
Network sniffing is a separate technique, not in CHPSET.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the CHPSET system hacking methodology with the broader ethical hacking phases (reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, etc.), leading them to incorrectly select social engineering or network sniffing as valid CHPSET steps.
Detailed technical explanation
The CHPSET acronym is a mnemonic for the six phases of system hacking: Cracking passwords, Hacking (gaining access), Privilege escalation, System hacking (maintaining access), Erasing tracks, and Tunneling (covering tracks and pivoting). Privilege escalation often involves exploiting misconfigured services (e.g., unquoted service paths) or using tools like Windows-Exploit-Suggester to identify missing patches. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might use a local privilege escalation exploit like CVE-2021-1732 on Windows 10 to gain SYSTEM privileges after initial access via a phishing email.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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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: Privilege escalation — Privilege escalation is a core phase in the CEH system hacking methodology (CHPSET), which stands for Cracking, Hacking, Privilege Escalation, System Hacking, Erasing Tracks, and Tunneling. After initial access is gained, an attacker must escalate privileges (e.g., from a standard user to root or SYSTEM) to gain full control over the target system. This is achieved through techniques like exploiting kernel vulnerabilities, token manipulation, or using tools such as Metasploit's getsystem.
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 24, 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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