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.
Which tool would a penetration tester MOST likely use to perform ARP poisoning and conduct a man-in-the-middle attack on a local network?
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.
Wireshark
Why wrong: Wireshark is a packet analyzer, not an ARP poisoning tool.
Nmap
Why wrong: Nmap is a network scanner, not an ARP poisoning tool.
tcpdump
Why wrong: tcpdump is a command-line packet analyzer, not for ARP poisoning.
Ettercap
Correct. Ettercap is specifically designed for MITM attacks using ARP poisoning.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Ettercap
Ettercap is a comprehensive suite for man-in-the-middle attacks, including ARP poisoning, DNS spoofing, and packet sniffing.
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.
Wireshark
Why it's wrong here
Wireshark is a packet analyzer, not an ARP poisoning tool.
Nmap
Why it's wrong here
Nmap is a network scanner, not an ARP poisoning tool.
tcpdump
Why it's wrong here
tcpdump is a command-line packet analyzer, not for ARP poisoning.
Ettercap
Why this is correct
Correct. Ettercap is specifically designed for MITM attacks using ARP poisoning.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" 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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
tcpdump is a command-line packet analyzer, not for ARP poisoning.
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: Ettercap — Ettercap is a comprehensive suite for man-in-the-middle attacks, including ARP poisoning, DNS spoofing, and packet sniffing.
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". 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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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