What Are the Most Common CEH Exam Questions?

Introduction

The Certified Ethical Hacker exam is built around real world cybersecurity concepts. It evaluates your understanding of hacking techniques, penetration testing steps, countermeasures, tools, vulnerabilities, and security processes. Many students feel confused about the type of questions they will get in CEH. This blog simplifies everything by sharing the most common CEH exam questions, question patterns, examples, and the best way to prepare for them.

If you want to pass CEH with confidence, understanding the commonly asked questions is one of the best ways to prepare. The exam covers multiple domains such as footprinting, scanning, enumeration, malware, social engineering, cryptography, wireless security, cloud security, and more. We will explore each aspect in detail so you can get a clear idea of what the exam expects from you.

Common Types of Questions Asked in CEH Exam

Most CEH questions follow a pattern that checks your practical knowledge, your understanding of tools, and your ability to identify the correct technique for a given scenario. Many questions are situation based. Others are purely conceptual. Below are the major types of questions commonly asked.

• Scenario based ethical hacking questions
• Tool identification questions
• Command based questions
• Conceptual cybersecurity questions
• Questions based on attack phases
• Vulnerability and exploit related questions
• Risk and security control questions

Most Common CEH Exam Questions and Topics

Below is a detailed breakdown of the most frequent topics that appear in CEH along with example questions. These examples are written in a human friendly way so beginners can understand them easily.

1. Footprinting and Reconnaissance

This section includes questions related to information gathering, Whois, footprinting tools, and passive or active reconnaissance.

• Which footprinting tool is used for gathering DNS information?
• What type of attack uses Google search operators to gather sensitive information?
• Which footprinting method collects data without directly interacting with the target?

2. Scanning and Enumeration

Questions generally involve Nmap commands, port scanning techniques, and identifying open ports.

• Which Nmap command is used for OS detection?
• What is the purpose of a FIN scan?
• Which protocol uses port 161?

3. System Hacking

CEH frequently asks about password attacks, keyloggers, privilege escalation, and credential harvesting.

• What technique is used to elevate permissions on a compromised system?
• Which password attack tries all combinations until the correct one is found?
• Which Windows tool captures system passwords stored in memory?

4. Malware Threats

Expect questions related to viruses, worms, Trojans, backdoors, RATs, and malware analysis.

• Which type of malware disguises itself as a legitimate software?
• What type of attack uses a program that replicates itself?
• Which malware gives remote control of a system to an attacker?

5. Sniffing and Network Attacks

These questions cover ARP poisoning, MAC flooding, Wireshark, sniffing types, and packet analysis.

• What attack manipulates ARP tables to intercept traffic?
• Which tool is most commonly used for packet capturing?
• What type of sniffing attack uses a hub based network?

6. Social Engineering

CEH includes multiple scenario based questions on human manipulation.

• What type of attack tricks users into clicking malicious links?
• Which social engineering technique involves pretending to be an authority figure?
• What is shoulder surfing?

7. Denial of Service and Distributed DoS

You will see questions related to tools, symptoms, and attack classifications.

• Which attack overloads the target with traffic to make a service unavailable?
• What tool is commonly used for performing DoS attacks?
• What is a reflection attack?

8. Web Application Security

This covers SQL injection, XSS, file inclusion, and web attack methods.

• Which vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into webpages?
• What type of SQL injection modifies a database query?
• Which method protects against CSRF attacks?

9. Wireless Security

Expect questions on Wi-Fi cracking, encryption types, and wireless attack tools.

• Which Wi-Fi encryption standard is most secure?
• What attack listens to Wi-Fi packets to capture handshakes?
• Which tool is used for wireless auditing?

10. Cryptography

CEH asks about hashing, encryption algorithms, certificates, and PKI.

• Which algorithm is used for hashing?
• What is the purpose of a public key?
• Which encryption method uses the same key for encrypting and decrypting?

Table of Common CEH Domains and Weightage

Conclusion

The CEH exam focuses heavily on real world hacking concepts, cyber attack methods, network security principles, and the practical use of security tools. By understanding the most common CEH exam questions and the topics behind them, you will be able to prepare effectively and confidently. Consistent practice, hands on labs, and continuous revision will help you clear the exam without difficulty. Ethical Hacking Training Institute, Webasha Technologies, and Cybersecurity Training Institute offer excellent training programs for CEH aspirants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the CEH exam?

The exam contains 125 multiple choice questions.

Is the CEH exam difficult?

It is moderately challenging, but proper preparation makes it manageable.

How many hours should I study for CEH?

Most learners prepare for 70 to 100 hours.

What topics appear most often in CEH?

Footprinting, scanning, system hacking, social engineering, and cryptography.

Does CEH include scenario based questions?

Yes, many questions are situation based.

Is CEH multiple choice?

Yes, the exam is entirely multiple choice.

Do tools based questions appear?

Yes, tool identification is very common.

Which version of CEH is currently active?

CEH v12 is currently widely used.

Do I need Linux knowledge?

Basic Linux knowledge is helpful but not mandatory.

What is the passing score?

The passing score ranges from 60 percent to 85 percent depending on the difficulty level.

Are there negative marks in CEH?

No, there is no negative marking.

How long does CEH certification remain valid?

It remains valid for three years.

Do hands on labs help in clearing CEH?

Yes, hands on practice makes the concepts easier to understand.

Can beginners clear CEH?

Yes, beginners can clear it with proper training and practice.

Which institute is best for CEH preparation?

Ethical Hacking Training Institute is highly recommended for structured CEH preparation.