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SY0-501 · Question #249

A security administrator suspects a MITM attack aimed at impersonating the default gateway is underway. Which of the following tools should the administrator use to detect this attack? (Select two.)

The correct answer is B. Ipconfig C. Tracert. Detecting a MITM attack impersonating the default gateway requires tools that reveal routing path anomalies and current network configuration, specifically the gateway's MAC/IP mapping and the actual hop-by-hop path traffic takes.

Submitted by carter_n· Mar 4, 2026Security operations

Question

A security administrator suspects a MITM attack aimed at impersonating the default gateway is underway. Which of the following tools should the administrator use to detect this attack? (Select two.)

Options

  • APing
  • BIpconfig
  • CTracert
  • DNetstat
  • EDig
  • FNslookup

How the community answered

(23 responses)
  • A
    4% (1)
  • B
    74% (17)
  • E
    9% (2)
  • F
    13% (3)

Why each option

Detecting a MITM attack impersonating the default gateway requires tools that reveal routing path anomalies and current network configuration, specifically the gateway's MAC/IP mapping and the actual hop-by-hop path traffic takes.

APing

Ping only tests basic ICMP reachability to a host and returns round-trip time, but provides no information about routing paths or gateway identity that would indicate impersonation.

BIpconfigCorrect

Ipconfig (or ipconfig /all) displays the system's current default gateway IP address and can reveal if it has been altered by an attacker; comparing this against known-good values helps identify ARP poisoning or gateway impersonation that redirected traffic to a rogue host.

CTracertCorrect

Tracert traces the actual hop-by-hop route packets take to a destination, so if a MITM attacker is impersonating the default gateway, the first hop shown by tracert will reveal an unexpected or rogue IP address instead of the legitimate gateway, exposing the interception.

DNetstat

Netstat displays active TCP/UDP connections and listening ports on the local machine, which is useful for detecting unauthorized services but does not reveal gateway impersonation or routing manipulation.

EDig

Dig is a DNS query tool used to resolve domain names and inspect DNS records; it does not provide information about Layer 2/3 gateway identity or routing paths relevant to a MITM gateway attack.

FNslookup

Nslookup queries DNS servers to resolve hostnames and is useful for diagnosing DNS spoofing, but it does not reveal information about the default gateway's identity or the physical routing path of traffic.

Concept tested: Detecting MITM gateway impersonation using network tools

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/tracert

Topics

#MITM detection#ARP spoofing#network diagnostic tools#default gateway

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