CPENT Iot And OT Exploitation Practice Question
A penetration tester is evaluating an embedded IoT device that exposes a Telnet service on port 23. The tester suspects default credentials are in use. Which command-line tool can the tester use to perform a fast dictionary attack against the Telnet service using a username and password list?
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
✓
Hydra
Hydra is a versatile, parallelized login cracker supporting numerous network authentication protocols, including Telnet.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Sqlmap
Why it's wrong here
Sqlmap automates SQL injection detection and exploitation.
- ✓
Hydra
Why this is correct
Hydra supports brute-forcing Telnet authentication with specified user and password lists.
- ✗
Nikto
Why it's wrong here
Nikto is a web server vulnerability scanner, not a Telnet login cracker.
- ✗
Wpscan
Why it's wrong here
Wpscan is a WordPress vulnerability scanner.
About these practice questions
This CPENT question is part of Courseiva's 274-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam 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.