- A
Rogue access point
Why wrong: A rogue AP is any unauthorized AP, but the scenario emphasizes masquerading as a legitimate one with a stronger signal, which is the evil twin variant.
- B
Karma attack
Why wrong: A Karma attack exploits devices that probe for previously connected networks; the attacker responds to probes, not necessarily by cloning an existing AP.
- C
Evil twin attack
An evil twin is a rogue AP that impersonates a legitimate AP, often by using the same SSID and MAC, and broadcasting a stronger signal to lure victims.
- D
ARP spoofing
Why wrong: ARP spoofing is a Layer 2 attack that manipulates ARP tables, not related to wireless AP impersonation.
Question 432 of 1,000
CISSP Communication and Network Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of communication and network security. 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.
After a recent security audit, a network administrator discovers that an attacker has been intercepting traffic by associating with a legitimate access point's MAC address and broadcasting a stronger signal. Which type of attack has occurred?
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
✓
Evil twin attack
The correct answer is C, Evil twin attack. This attack involves an attacker setting up a rogue access point that mimics a legitimate access point by spoofing its MAC address (BSSID) and broadcasting a stronger signal, causing clients to associate with the attacker's device instead of the legitimate AP. The key distinction is the active impersonation of a specific legitimate AP, not just the presence of an unauthorized AP.
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.
- ✗
Rogue access point
Why it's wrong here
A rogue AP is any unauthorized AP, but the scenario emphasizes masquerading as a legitimate one with a stronger signal, which is the evil twin variant.
- ✗
Karma attack
Why it's wrong here
A Karma attack exploits devices that probe for previously connected networks; the attacker responds to probes, not necessarily by cloning an existing AP.
- ✓
Evil twin attack
Why this is correct
An evil twin is a rogue AP that impersonates a legitimate AP, often by using the same SSID and MAC, and broadcasting a stronger signal to lure victims.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
ARP spoofing
Why it's wrong here
ARP spoofing is a Layer 2 attack that manipulates ARP tables, not related to wireless AP impersonation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'rogue access point' (any unauthorized AP) with 'evil twin' (a specific impersonation of a legitimate AP), but the key differentiator is the active spoofing of the legitimate AP's MAC address and signal strength to intercept traffic, not just the presence of an unauthorized device.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
A rogue AP is any unauthorized AP, but the scenario emphasizes masquerading as a legitimate one with a stronger signal, which is the evil twin variant.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In an evil twin attack, the attacker typically uses a tool like airbase-ng from the aircrack-ng suite to create a fake AP with the same BSSID (MAC) and SSID as the target, often with a higher transmit power to ensure client devices prefer it. The attack exploits the 802.11 client's tendency to associate with the strongest signal, and once connected, the attacker can perform man-in-the-middle attacks, capture credentials, or inject malicious content. In real-world scenarios, this is often combined with deauthentication attacks to force clients off the legitimate AP and onto the evil twin.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Communication and Network Security — This question tests Communication and Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Evil twin attack — The correct answer is C, Evil twin attack. This attack involves an attacker setting up a rogue access point that mimics a legitimate access point by spoofing its MAC address (BSSID) and broadcasting a stronger signal, causing clients to associate with the attacker's device instead of the legitimate AP. The key distinction is the active impersonation of a specific legitimate AP, not just the presence of an unauthorized AP.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CISSP exam.
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