Quick Answer
The answer is a brute-force attack and a rainbow table attack. A brute-force attack systematically iterates through every possible character combination until the correct password is found, making it computationally expensive but theoretically guaranteed to succeed given unlimited time. A rainbow table attack, in contrast, uses precomputed hash chains to reverse cryptographic hash functions, allowing an attacker to look up a password’s plaintext from its hash without performing live brute-force calculations. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, these two techniques are frequently contrasted to test your understanding of time-memory trade-offs: brute-force is pure computational power, while rainbow tables sacrifice storage for speed. A common trap is confusing rainbow tables with simple dictionary attacks—remember that rainbow tables rely on precomputed hash chains, not a wordlist. For the exam, keep this memory tip: “Brute force breaks the lock by trying every key; rainbow tables bring a pre-made keychain.”
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of vulnerability analysis 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 TWO of the following are valid techniques for password cracking?
Brute-force attack
Tries all possible passwords until correct.
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing tricks users into revealing passwords.
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why wrong: MITM intercepts communications, not cracking passwords.
Rainbow table attack
Uses precomputed hash chains to reverse hashes.
Keylogging
Why wrong: Keylogging captures keystrokes, not cracking.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Brute-force attack
A brute-force attack is a valid password cracking technique that systematically tries every possible combination of characters until the correct password is found. It is computationally intensive but guaranteed to succeed given enough time, making it a fundamental method in password auditing and recovery.
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.
Brute-force attack
Why this is correct
Tries all possible passwords until correct.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing tricks users into revealing passwords.
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
MITM intercepts communications, not cracking passwords.
Rainbow table attack
Why this is correct
Uses precomputed hash chains to reverse hashes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Keylogging
Why it's wrong here
Keylogging captures keystrokes, not cracking.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse passive or indirect credential theft methods (phishing, keylogging, MITM) with active password cracking techniques that directly derive plaintext from hashes or encrypted data.
Detailed technical explanation
Rainbow table attacks precompute hash chains for a given hash algorithm (e.g., LM, NTLM, MD5) and store them in a compressed lookup table, enabling rapid reversal of hashes without recomputing each candidate. This technique is highly effective against unsalted hashes, but modern systems use salts (e.g., in /etc/shadow with SHA-512) to render precomputed tables useless, forcing attackers to fall back to brute-force or dictionary attacks.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Vulnerability Analysis and System Hacking — This question tests Vulnerability Analysis and System Hacking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Brute-force attack — A brute-force attack is a valid password cracking technique that systematically tries every possible combination of characters until the correct password is found. It is computationally intensive but guaranteed to succeed given enough time, making it a fundamental method in password auditing and recovery.
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 11, 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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