312-50V11 · Question #623
An nmap command that includes the host specification of 202.176.56-57.* will scan _______ number of hosts.
The correct answer is C. 512. The nmap wildcard '*' expands to all 256 values (0-255) for that octet. With two third-octet values (56 and 57), the total host count is 256 x 2 = 512.
Question
An nmap command that includes the host specification of 202.176.56-57.* will scan _______ number of hosts.
Options
- A2
- B256
- C512
- DOver 10, 000
How the community answered
(54 responses)- A9% (5)
- B4% (2)
- C83% (45)
- D4% (2)
Why each option
The nmap wildcard '*' expands to all 256 values (0-255) for that octet. With two third-octet values (56 and 57), the total host count is 256 x 2 = 512.
2 would be the count if only the two third-octet values were counted while ignoring the wildcard fourth octet expansion.
256 would be correct for a single subnet wildcard like 202.176.56.*, but the range 56-57 doubles that count.
In nmap target specification, the range '56-57' selects two values for the third octet, and the wildcard '*' expands the fourth octet to all 256 addresses (0 through 255). Multiplying 2 third-octet values by 256 fourth-octet values yields exactly 512 unique host addresses that nmap will scan.
Over 10,000 hosts would require a much broader range specification; two /24-equivalent ranges produce only 512 addresses.
Concept tested: Nmap target specification range and wildcard expansion
Source: https://nmap.org/book/man-target-specification.html
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