SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of network and communications security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
During a penetration test, the tester captures traffic on a switch port that is part of a VLAN other than the native VLAN. The tester is able to receive traffic destined for the management VLAN. What configuration flaw is exploited?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Trunk port misconfiguration with native VLAN mismatch
The correct answer is B because the scenario describes a native VLAN mismatch on a trunk port. When two switches have different native VLANs configured on a trunk, they will not tag frames for their respective native VLANs. This allows an attacker on a non-native VLAN to receive traffic destined for the management VLAN (typically VLAN 1) by sending frames with no 802.1Q tag, which the receiving switch treats as belonging to its own native VLAN, effectively bypassing VLAN segmentation.
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.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the native VLAN mismatch concept by describing a scenario where an attacker on a non-native VLAN receives management traffic, and candidates mistakenly choose options like 'VTP transparent mode' or 'STP enabled' because they confuse protocol behavior with security flaws.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The attack exploits the 802.1Q trunking specification: frames on the native VLAN are transmitted untagged. If two switches disagree on the native VLAN, an attacker can inject frames with an 802.1Q tag for VLAN 10 (the attacker's VLAN) but send them untagged from the perspective of the mismatched trunk. The receiving switch will place those untagged frames into its own native VLAN (often VLAN 1, the management VLAN), allowing the attacker to sniff or inject management traffic. This is commonly known as a 'VLAN hopping' attack via double tagging or native VLAN mismatch.
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 security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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.
Network and Communications Security — This question tests Network and Communications Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Trunk port misconfiguration with native VLAN mismatch — The correct answer is B because the scenario describes a native VLAN mismatch on a trunk port. When two switches have different native VLANs configured on a trunk, they will not tag frames for their respective native VLANs. This allows an attacker on a non-native VLAN to receive traffic destined for the management VLAN (typically VLAN 1) by sending frames with no 802.1Q tag, which the receiving switch treats as belonging to its own native VLAN, effectively bypassing VLAN segmentation.
What should I do if I get this SSCP 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.
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Question Discussion
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