Quick Answer
The answer is dictionary attack, brute force attack, and rainbow table attack. These three are the primary password cracking techniques because each exploits a different vulnerability in how passwords are stored or chosen. A dictionary attack uses a precompiled list of common words or phrases, relying on users selecting weak passwords, while a brute force attack systematically tries every possible character combination, making it exhaustive but time-consuming. A rainbow table attack precomputes hash values for a vast set of passwords, allowing an attacker to reverse a stolen hash quickly without guessing. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this question tests your understanding of attack vectors against authentication systems; a common trap is confusing a rainbow table attack with a dictionary attack—remember that rainbow tables work offline against hashes, not live login prompts. For a memory tip, think of the three as “guess, grind, and precompute”: dictionary guesses common words, brute force grinds through all possibilities, and rainbow tables precompute hash lookups.
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 password cracking techniques? (Select 3)
Dictionary attack
Uses a wordlist to guess passwords.
Brute-force attack
Tries all possible combinations.
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing is social engineering to obtain credentials.
Steganography
Why wrong: Steganography hides data, not cracks passwords.
Rainbow table attack
Uses precomputed hash chains.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Dictionary attack
A dictionary attack is a password cracking technique where an attacker uses a precompiled list of likely passwords (a dictionary file) to attempt authentication against a target system. It relies on the fact that many users choose common words or phrases as passwords, making it effective against weak passwords but ineffective against strong, random ones.
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.
Dictionary attack
Why this is correct
Uses a wordlist to guess passwords.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Brute-force attack
Why this is correct
Tries all possible combinations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is social engineering to obtain credentials.
Steganography
Why it's wrong here
Steganography hides data, not cracks passwords.
Rainbow table attack
Why this is correct
Uses precomputed hash chains.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse password cracking techniques with broader attack categories like social engineering (phishing) or data hiding (steganography), which are distinct concepts in the CEH exam's enumeration and system hacking domain.
Detailed technical explanation
Dictionary attacks work by hashing each word from the dictionary (e.g., using MD5, SHA-1, or NTLM) and comparing the hash against a stolen password hash database. Tools like John the Ripper or Hashcat can perform these attacks at millions of hashes per second, and they often combine dictionary words with common mutations (e.g., appending numbers or symbols) to increase success rates. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might use a leaked password list like 'RockYou' to crack Windows NTLM hashes obtained from a compromised domain controller.
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
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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: Dictionary attack — A dictionary attack is a password cracking technique where an attacker uses a precompiled list of likely passwords (a dictionary file) to attempt authentication against a target system. It relies on the fact that many users choose common words or phrases as passwords, making it effective against weak passwords but ineffective against strong, random ones.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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. Which TWO of the following are password cracking techniques? (Select 2)
easyWhy B: Dictionary attack and rainbow table attack are both password cracking techniques. SQL injection is a web attack, not password cracking. Phishing is social engineering. ARP spoofing is network attack.
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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