312-50v13 Dumps with Practice Exam Questions Answers

SHA-256 is a cryptographic hash function, and CEH v13 clearly states that hash functions alone provide data integrity, but not authenticity or non-repudiation. If attackers can modify data and recompute the hash, integrity checks will still pass.

The issue arises because SHA-256 does not prove who created or modified the data. To address this weakness, CEH v13 recommends using digital signatures, which combine hashing with asymmetric cryptography. A digital signature ensures:

Integrity (data has not changed)

Authentication (data was signed by a known entity)

Non-repudiation (the signer cannot deny the action)

Digital signatures work by hashing the data and encrypting the hash with the sender’s private key. Any modification to the data invalidates the signature.

Encryption alone (Options A and C) protects confidentiality, not integrity or authenticity. SSL/TLS (Option B) secures data in transit but does not protect stored data from tampering.

CEH v13 explicitly identifies digital signatures as the correct cryptographic control when integrity mechanisms alone are insufficient. Therefore, Option D is correct.

CEH v13 highlights the Idle Scan as one of the stealthiest reconnaissance methods available, designed specifically to avoid detection by IDS and security monitoring tools. Idle scanning leverages a “zombie host”—a system with a predictable IPID sequence—to route all probe packets through it. Since no packets ever originate directly from the attacker’s IP, IDS systems are unable to attribute the port scan to the attacker. CEH emphasizes that this technique creates zero direct traffic between the attacker and the target, making it extremely evasive and ideal for highly monitored networks. FIN scans (Option A) are somewhat stealthy but still originate from the attacker and are detectable. TCP Connect scans (Option C) are the most detectable because they complete full connections. ICMP Echo scans (Option D) are easily logged and flagged by IDS. Idle scanning is uniquely suited for bypassing advanced detection systems while still identifying open ports and live hosts.

A Collision attack is a type of cryptographic attack that targets the hash function. The goal of this attack is to find two different inputs that produce the same hash output. This undermines the integrity of the hashing algorithm, as hash functions are expected to produce a unique output for each unique input.

In practical terms, if two different documents (inputs) produce the same hash value (collision), an attacker can replace a legitimate file with a malicious one without detection, assuming the system validates integrity only via the hash.

CEH v13 defines a collision attack as follows:

"A collision attack focuses on finding two different messages (M1 and M2) that produce the same hash value. This can compromise digital signatures, certificates, and other security protocols."

Reference – CEH v13 Study Guide:

Module 20: Cryptography, Section: “Hashing Algorithms and Attacks”, Subsection: “Collision Attacks”

Incorrect Options Explained:

A: Public keys are part of asymmetric encryption, not relevant to collisions.

B/C: These are incorrect descriptions; collision attacks are not about breaking hashes into parts to retrieve plaintext or private keys.

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CHNTPW (Change NT Password) is a Linux-based utility that allows attackers or administrators to:

Reset Windows user account passwords

Unlock disabled or locked user accounts

Remove password protection without knowing the original password

It works by editing the Windows SAM (Security Account Manager) file located in the Windows system directory.

Reference – CEH v13 Official Study Guide:

Module 5: System Hacking

Quote:

“CHNTPW is a tool that can reset or change passwords on Windows systems by directly editing the SAM database. It is commonly run from a Linux LiveCD.”

Incorrect Options:

A. John the Ripper is for cracking passwords, not resetting them directly.

B. SET (Social Engineering Toolkit) is for phishing and payloads, not password resets.

D. Cain & Abel is a password recovery tool for Windows but runs on Windows, not Linux.

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CEH v13 explains that steganography-based exfiltration hides data within benign-looking files, making it extremely difficult to detect via firewalls or IPS alone. Blocking all outbound traffic is impractical, and IPS systems are not designed to analyze file content deeply for hidden data.

The most effective countermeasure is steganalysis, which involves inspecting files for statistical anomalies, altered pixel distributions, or hidden payload patterns. CEH v13 identifies steganalysis tools as the only reliable method to detect and decode hidden data.

Traffic monitoring (Option C) helps identify suspicious transfers but cannot confirm steganography. Therefore, Option D is correct.