CEH Enumeration and System Hacking Practice Question
Which of the following commands would a tester use to enumerate NetBIOS names and their associated IP addresses on a local subnet?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the lowercase `-a` (which expects a hostname) with the uppercase `-A` (which expects an IP address), leading them to incorrectly select option C when the question specifies an IP address.
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
✓
nbtstat -A 192.168.1.10
The `nbtstat -A` command (with a capital 'A') performs a NetBIOS name table lookup against a remote IP address, listing the NetBIOS names registered by that host along with their associated IP addresses. This is the standard method for enumerating NetBIOS names on a specific target within a local subnet, as it queries the NetBIOS name service (UDP port 137) directly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
nbtstat -n
Why it's wrong here
The "nbtstat -n" command displays the NetBIOS name table of the *local* computer. This output lists the NetBIOS names that the local machine has registered on the network, along with their types and status. While useful for local diagnostics, it does not perform remote enumeration of other hosts on the network, which is the objective of the question. Therefore, it cannot be used to gather information about a target remote system.
- ✗
nbtstat -c
Why it's wrong here
The "nbtstat -c" command shows the NetBIOS name cache, which contains mappings of NetBIOS names to IP addresses that the local machine has recently resolved. This cache is populated through name queries and responses, aiding in faster subsequent lookups. However, it only reflects previously resolved names on the local system and does not actively query remote systems for their current NetBIOS name tables, making it unsuitable for live enumeration.
- ✗
nbtstat -a 192.168.1.10
Why it's wrong here
The "nbtstat -a" command is designed to display the NetBIOS name table of a *remote computer* when provided with its *NetBIOS name* as an argument. Supplying an IP address directly to the "-a" switch results in incorrect syntax, as it specifically expects a NetBIOS name for resolution. Therefore, using an IP address like "192.168.1.10" with "-a" will fail to retrieve the target's NetBIOS information, preventing successful enumeration.
- ✓
nbtstat -A 192.168.1.10
Why this is correct
The "nbtstat -A" command is specifically designed to perform a remote NetBIOS name table query against a target identified by its *IP address*. This command sends a NetBIOS Adapter Status Request to the specified IP, retrieving the NetBIOS names registered by that host, including workgroup/domain membership and services. This direct query capability makes "nbtstat -A 192.168.1.10" the correct choice for enumerating NetBIOS information from a remote system. It directly fulfills the requirement to enumerate a remote host using its IP.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.