SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
A security analyst is investigating a network incident. Which TWO of the following are indicators of a man-in-the-middle attack using ARP spoofing? (Select TWO)
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
✓
An ARP entry for the default gateway points to an unknown MAC address.
Duplicate MAC addresses for the same IP (since attacker claims the IP) and an entry matching the attacker's MAC with the gateway IP indicate ARP spoofing.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
High number of TCP retransmissions from a single host.
Why it's wrong here
Retransmissions may indicate network issues, not specific to ARP spoofing.
- ✓
An ARP entry for the default gateway points to an unknown MAC address.
Why this is correct
The attacker's MAC is associated with the gateway IP.
- ✓
The ARP cache shows two different MAC addresses for the same IP address (e.g., gateway IP).
Why this is correct
Duplication indicates a spoofed entry.
- ✗
The switch's CAM table has multiple MAC entries on the same port.
Why it's wrong here
This could indicate MAC flooding, not ARP spoofing.
- ✗
Multiple IP addresses resolve to the same MAC address in the ARP cache.
Why it's wrong here
This could be normal (e.g., proxy ARP), but not a direct indicator.
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 |
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on SSCP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security analyst notices an unusual number of ARP replies on the network where one MAC address is claiming to be multiple IP addresses. Which type of attack is most likely occurring?
medium- ✓ A.ARP spoofing
- B.SYN flood
- C.DNS poisoning
- D.DHCP starvation
Why A: ARP spoofing involves sending forged ARP replies to associate the attacker's MAC with the victim's IP, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks at Layer 2.
Variation 2. An attacker is performing a man-in-the-middle attack at Layer 2 by sending forged ARP messages to associate their MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate host on the same subnet. This attack is known as:
medium- ✓ A.ARP spoofing
- B.DNS poisoning
- C.DHCP spoofing
- D.MAC flooding
Why A: ARP spoofing involves sending gratuitous ARP replies to poison the ARP cache of other hosts.
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.