SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
An attacker sends a flood of DHCP request packets with spoofed MAC addresses to exhaust the DHCP server's IP address pool, preventing legitimate clients from obtaining IP addresses. This attack is known as:
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 exhausts the IP pool by sending many fake DHCP requests, leading to denial of service.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ARP poisoning
Why it's wrong here
ARP poisoning manipulates ARP tables, not DHCP requests.
- ✗
MAC flooding
Why it's wrong here
MAC flooding targets switch CAM tables, not DHCP.
- ✓
DHCP starvation
Why this is correct
Correct description of the attack.
- ✗
DHCP spoofing
Why it's wrong here
DHCP spoofing involves a rogue server, not exhaustion of the pool.
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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Same concept, more angles
1 more way 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. An attacker sends a large number of DHCP request messages with spoofed MAC addresses to a network's DHCP server, causing the server to exhaust its IP address pool and deny service to legitimate clients. This attack is known as:
medium- A.ARP spoofing
- B.DNS poisoning
- C.DHCP spoofing
- ✓ D.DHCP starvation
Why D: DHCP starvation floods the DHCP server with fake requests to deplete the IP address pool.
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.