CHFI Incident Response and First Responder Skills Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of incident response and first responder skills. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
C:\> netstat -ano
Active Connections
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State PID
TCP 192.168.1.100:1045 203.0.113.5:4444 ESTABLISHED 1234
TCP 192.168.1.100:1046 192.168.1.1:443 ESTABLISHED 5678
TCP 192.168.1.100:1047 10.0.0.1:22 ESTABLISHED 9012
TCP 192.168.1.100:1048 198.51.100.7:80 TIME_WAIT 3456
Refer to the exhibit. During incident response, a first responder runs 'netstat -ano' on a compromised Windows system. Which connection is most likely to be the command-and-control (C2) channel and should be prioritized for isolation?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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.
Refer to the exhibit.
C:\> netstat -ano
Active Connections
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State PID
TCP 192.168.1.100:1045 203.0.113.5:4444 ESTABLISHED 1234
TCP 192.168.1.100:1046 192.168.1.1:443 ESTABLISHED 5678
TCP 192.168.1.100:1047 10.0.0.1:22 ESTABLISHED 9012
TCP 192.168.1.100:1048 198.51.100.7:80 TIME_WAIT 3456
A
192.168.1.100:1045 to 203.0.113.5:4444 (ESTABLISHED)
Port 4444 is a well-known C2 port; the external IP suggests communication with an attacker.
B
192.168.1.100:1047 to 10.0.0.1:22 (ESTABLISHED)
Why wrong: This is a legitimate SSH connection to an internal server.
C
192.168.1.100:1046 to 192.168.1.1:443 (ESTABLISHED)
Why wrong: This is a legitimate HTTPS connection to the internal gateway, likely for web browsing.
D
192.168.1.100:1048 to 198.51.100.7:80 (TIME_WAIT)
Why wrong: This is a normal HTTP connection in TIME_WAIT state, likely from a web request.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
192.168.1.100:1045 to 203.0.113.5:4444 (ESTABLISHED)
Option A shows an established connection from the internal host (192.168.1.100) to an external IP (203.0.113.5) on TCP port 4444, which is commonly associated with Metasploit reverse shells and other C2 frameworks. The ESTABLISHED state indicates an active, ongoing session, making it the highest priority for isolation during incident response.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
192.168.1.100:1045 to 203.0.113.5:4444 (ESTABLISHED)
Why this is correct
Port 4444 is a well-known C2 port; the external IP suggests communication with an attacker.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
192.168.1.100:1047 to 10.0.0.1:22 (ESTABLISHED)
Why it's wrong here
This is a legitimate SSH connection to an internal server.
✗
192.168.1.100:1046 to 192.168.1.1:443 (ESTABLISHED)
Why it's wrong here
This is a legitimate HTTPS connection to the internal gateway, likely for web browsing.
✗
192.168.1.100:1048 to 198.51.100.7:80 (TIME_WAIT)
Why it's wrong here
This is a normal HTTP connection in TIME_WAIT state, likely from a web request.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that any external connection is suspicious, but the trap here is that candidates overlook the significance of the ESTABLISHED state and the specific port 4444, instead focusing on the IP address alone or mistaking a TIME_WAIT connection for an active threat.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Port 4444 is the default listener port for Metasploit's reverse_tcp payload and is widely used by attackers for C2 because it is often unfiltered by egress firewalls. The ESTABLISHED state in netstat output means the TCP three-way handshake has completed and data can flow bidirectionally, which is critical for real-time command execution. In contrast, TIME_WAIT indicates the connection is being kept alive only to handle delayed packets and is not actively transferring data.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CHFI 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CHFI question in full detail.
Incident Response and First Responder Skills — This question tests Incident Response and First Responder Skills — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 192.168.1.100:1045 to 203.0.113.5:4444 (ESTABLISHED) — Option A shows an established connection from the internal host (192.168.1.100) to an external IP (203.0.113.5) on TCP port 4444, which is commonly associated with Metasploit reverse shells and other C2 frameworks. The ESTABLISHED state indicates an active, ongoing session, making it the highest priority for isolation during incident response.
What should I do if I get this CHFI question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "most likely". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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