SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
A network administrator notices that legitimate clients are unable to obtain IP addresses from the DHCP server. The network logs show a high volume of DHCP Discover messages from different MAC addresses. Which attack is most likely occurring?
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
✓
DHCP starvation
DHCP starvation floods the network with fake DHCP Discover messages to exhaust the IP address pool, preventing legitimate clients from obtaining addresses.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
DHCP starvation
Why this is correct
A high volume of DHCP Discover messages from fake MACs is characteristic of a DHCP starvation attack.
- ✗
DHCP spoofing
Why it's wrong here
DHCP spoofing involves a rogue DHCP server, not exhaustion of the IP pool.
- ✗
ARP spoofing
Why it's wrong here
ARP spoofing targets ARP tables, not DHCP.
- ✗
DNS amplification
Why it's wrong here
DNS amplification is a DDoS attack using DNS queries, not DHCP.
Visual reference
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 |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.