Quick Answer
The correct answer includes http-sql-injection, ssl-heartbleed, and http-vuln-cve2017-5638, as these are all valid Nmap NSE scripts designed for service version detection or vulnerability scanning. The ssl-heartbleed.nse script, for example, targets the Heartbleed vulnerability (CVE-2014-0160) by sending a malformed TLS heartbeat request and inspecting the response for leaked memory, making it a direct vulnerability scanning tool within Nmap’s NSE library. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between NSE scripts used for banner grabbing or version detection versus those specifically built for vulnerability assessment, a common trap being scripts like http-title or ssh2-enum-algos which are informational rather than vulnerability-focused. A helpful memory tip is to associate scripts with “vuln” or “cve” in their names with vulnerability scanning, while scripts like “version” or “banner” indicate service detection.
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of footprinting, reconnaissance and scanning. 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 Nmap NSE scripts that could be used for service version detection or vulnerability scanning? (Choose THREE.)
dns-zone-transfer
Why wrong: Used for DNS zone transfer, not version detection or vulnerability scanning.
smb-os-discovery
Why wrong: Discovers OS via SMB, not version detection of services.
ssl-heartbleed
Checks for the Heartbleed vulnerability.
banner
Banner grabbing helps identify services and versions.
http-sql-injection
Detects SQL injection vulnerabilities in HTTP.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ssl-heartbleed
Option C is correct because the ssl-heartbleed NSE script (ssl-heartbleed.nse) specifically checks for the Heartbleed vulnerability (CVE-2014-0160) in OpenSSL implementations. It sends a malformed TLS heartbeat request and inspects the response for leaked memory contents, making it a direct vulnerability scanning script. This script is part of Nmap's NSE library and is widely used for identifying vulnerable SSL/TLS services.
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.
dns-zone-transfer
Why it's wrong here
Used for DNS zone transfer, not version detection or vulnerability scanning.
smb-os-discovery
Why it's wrong here
Discovers OS via SMB, not version detection of services.
ssl-heartbleed
Why this is correct
Checks for the Heartbleed vulnerability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
banner
Why this is correct
Banner grabbing helps identify services and versions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
http-sql-injection
Why this is correct
Detects SQL injection vulnerabilities in HTTP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'service version detection' with 'OS detection' (e.g., smb-os-discovery) or 'information gathering' (e.g., dns-zone-transfer), failing to distinguish between scripts that directly identify service versions or vulnerabilities versus those that perform other reconnaissance tasks.
Detailed technical explanation
The banner script works by connecting to a service and reading the initial banner sent by the application (e.g., 'SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_8.9p1'), which directly reveals the service name and version. The ssl-heartbleed script sends a heartbeat request with a payload length field set to 65535 bytes but only sends a small actual payload; if the server is vulnerable, it will echo back up to 65535 bytes of its memory, potentially leaking sensitive data like private keys. The http-sql-injection script uses a database of common SQL injection patterns (e.g., ' OR 1=1 --) and checks for error messages or behavioral changes in the HTTP response to confirm the vulnerability.
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Footprinting, Reconnaissance and Scanning — This question tests Footprinting, Reconnaissance and Scanning — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ssl-heartbleed — Option C is correct because the ssl-heartbleed NSE script (ssl-heartbleed.nse) specifically checks for the Heartbleed vulnerability (CVE-2014-0160) in OpenSSL implementations. It sends a malformed TLS heartbeat request and inspects the response for leaked memory contents, making it a direct vulnerability scanning script. This script is part of Nmap's NSE library and is widely used for identifying vulnerable SSL/TLS services.
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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