easyMultiple Choice
SSCP Practice Question: A small business uses MAC address filtering on…
A small business uses MAC address filtering on its wireless network to prevent unauthorized access. Which attack is most likely to bypass this control?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse MAC spoofing with deauthentication attacks, thinking that disconnecting a client is the primary method to bypass filtering, when in fact the attacker must spoof the allowed MAC to actually authenticate and gain network access.
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
✓
MAC spoofing
MAC address filtering is a weak access control because MAC addresses are transmitted in plaintext over the air and can be easily captured using a wireless sniffer (e.g., Wireshark). An attacker can then change their network interface's MAC address to match an allowed client via MAC spoofing, thereby bypassing the filter and gaining access to the network. This attack directly defeats the filtering mechanism without needing to crack encryption keys or impersonate the access point.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Deauthentication attack
Why it's wrong here
A deauthentication attack forges 802.11 management frames to disconnect clients; it disrupts availability rather than granting network access, so MAC filtering is not bypassed. It is tempting because deauth frames are unauthenticated and wireless-specific, which suits denial-of-service scenarios rather than admission control evasion.
- ✗
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
A man-in-the-middle attack intercepts traffic after a client has already associated; MAC filtering governs association, not the confidentiality or integrity of the resulting session. It is tempting because MITM attacks do subvert wireless security, which suits scenarios involving session interception rather than unauthorised network admission.
- ✗
Evil twin attack
Why it's wrong here
An evil twin is a rogue access point impersonating a legitimate SSID, luring clients to associate with it. MAC filtering on the legitimate AP does not stop a client joining the attacker's AP, which may enforce no filtering. It is tempting because evil twin attacks target wireless association, which suits credential-harvesting scenarios.
- ✓
MAC spoofing
Why this is correct
MAC spoofing directly defeats MAC address filtering because the attacker changes their network interface's hardware address to match an already-authorised device on the allowlist. The access point then permits the connection, satisfying the stem's constraint of bypassing the filter without needing valid credentials or breaking encryption.
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.