CPENT Network And Perimeter Exploitation Practice Question
An elite penetration tester needs to bypass a strict perimeter stateful inspection firewall that drops fragmented packets and inspects TCP payload flags. They decide to use Nmap to send packets with the FIN, PSH, and URG flags set simultaneously (a Xmas scan). Which Nmap flag implements this?
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
✓
-sX
The -sX flag instructs Nmap to perform a Xmas tree scan, setting the FIN, PSH, and URG flags, which can bypass certain stateless firewalls or exploit RFC compliance quirks in TCP stacks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
-sN
Why it's wrong here
-sN performs a Null scan where no flags are set.
- ✗
-sF
Why it's wrong here
-sF performs a FIN scan where only the FIN flag is set.
- ✓
-sX
Why this is correct
-sX enables the Xmas tree scan setting FIN, PSH, and URG.
- ✗
-sW
Why it's wrong here
-sW is a TCP Window scan used to map out firewall filtering states.
About these practice questions
One of 274 original CPENT practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. 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.