CPENT Network And Perimeter Exploitation Practice Question
A penetration tester is performing service enumeration on a target FTP server. To quickly grab the banner and check what FTP software version is running without initiating an interactive login session, which tool is most appropriate?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Netcat
Netcat or Nmap service version detection can grab banners. Netcat allows manual connection to port 21 to view the greeting banner.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Netcat
Why this is correct
Netcat can be used to connect to raw TCP ports to read service banners.
- ✗
Wpscan
Why it's wrong here
Wpscan is a WordPress vulnerability scanner.
- ✗
Hashcat
Why it's wrong here
Hashcat is an advanced password recovery utility.
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Airbase-ng
Why it's wrong here
Airbase-ng is used for attacking wireless clients.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CPENT question from scratch — 276 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official EC-Council exam blueprint
This CPENT 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 CPENT exam.