What Are the CEH Hacking Techniques You Must Know?

Introduction

The CEH certification is built around the exact same techniques real attackers use. Understanding these techniques (and how to defend against them) is what makes you a professional ethical hacker.

Below are the most important offensive techniques you will see in both CEH theory and practical exams in 2025-2026.

Footprinting & Reconnaissance Techniques

• Google dorks & advanced search operators
• WHOIS, DNS, and subdomain enumeration
• Email harvesting with theHarvester
• Technology fingerprinting (Wappalyzer, BuiltWith)
• People search via LinkedIn & social media

Strong recon gives you 80% of the battle.

Scanning & Enumeration Techniques

• Nmap SYN, UDP, script, and vulnerability scanning
• SMB, SNMP, LDAP, and SMTP enumeration
• Banner grabbing and service fingerprinting
• Vulnerability scanning with Nessus/OpenVAS

Master these core techniques first.

System Hacking & Privilege Escalation Techniques

• Exploiting weak services with Metasploit
• Password attacks (online & offline)
• Kernel exploits & SUID escalation (Linux)
• UAC bypass & token impersonation (Windows)
• Meterpreter post-exploitation modules

Web Application Hacking Techniques

• SQL injection (error, union, blind, time-based)
• XSS (reflected, stored, DOM-based)
• CSRF, LFI/RFI, SSRF
• File upload bypass & command injection
• Burp Suite full workflow

Web attacks dominate the exam.

Password Cracking & Sniffing Techniques

• Hashcat & John the Ripper rules
• ARP poisoning & MITM with Bettercap
• LLMNR/NBNS poisoning
• Credential dumping (Mimikatz, secretsdump)

Social Engineering & Malware Techniques

• Phishing with SET & Gophish
• USB baiting and pretexting
• Trojan creation (msfvenom)
• Basic malware analysis

Never ignore phishing – it’s the easiest real-world attack.

Covering Tracks & Maintaining Access

• Log clearing & timestomping
• Creating backdoors (netcat, cron, registry)
• Persistence via services & scheduled tasks

Conclusion: Build Your Technique Arsenal Now

These are not just exam topics – they are the exact techniques used by red teams and attackers worldwide. Master them through daily hands-on practice, and you will not only clear CEH but become job-ready from day one.

Join a training program with 24×7 labs, live machines, and expert mentors to practice every technique legally and unlimited times. Your ethical hacking career starts with strong offensive skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which CEH technique is most tested?

SQL injection and web application attacks – always dominate.

Do I need to code for CEH techniques?

No, but basic Bash/Python makes you faster.

Is Metasploit allowed in CEH exam?

Yes, and highly recommended for speed.

Which technique gives fastest root?

Privilege escalation using known exploits or misconfigurations.

Is manual exploitation required?

Yes, especially for SQLi and XSS.

How many techniques are there in CEH?

Over 50 major techniques across 20 modules.

Which tool is used for most techniques?

Kali Linux + Burp Suite + Nmap + Metasploit.

Is social engineering tested in practical?

Rarely, but heavily tested in theory.

Can I learn all techniques in 3 months?

Yes, with daily lab practice.

Which technique is hardest for beginners?

Blind/time-based SQL injection and Linux privesc.

Are these techniques legal to practice?

Yes, on your own lab or authorized platforms.

Do companies test these techniques in interviews?

Yes, especially SQLi, XSS, and privilege escalation.

Is Hashcat better than John?

Hashcat is faster on GPU – preferred in exam.

Will these techniques change in 2026?

Core ones remain same; cloud & AI techniques are added.

How to practice all techniques fast?

Use TryHackMe + HTB + PortSwigger daily.