Using ntptrace to Trace NTP Server Chains

Enumeration

Being a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), a company has brought you on board to evaluate the safety measures in place for their network system. The company uses a network time protocol server in the demilitarized zone. During your enumeration, you decide to run a ntptrace command. Given the syntax: ntptrace [-n] [-m maxhosts] [servername/IP_address], which command usage would best serve your objective to find where the NTP server obtains the time from and to trace the list of NTP servers connected to the network?

ntptrace -n -m 5192.168.1.1
ntptrace -m 5192.168.1.1
ntptrace -n localhost
ntptrace 192.168.1.1 Correct Answer

Answer Correct answer: D — Running ntptrace 192.168.1.1 correctly targets the specific server to trace its time source chain without syntax errors.

Community Votes

100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer D. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Community Insight

The exam tests knowledge of the ntptrace tool's arguments, specifically identifying that the -m flag requires a numeric hop limit rather than an IP address, making simple IP targeting the valid approach.

This question tests the proper syntax and usage of the ntptrace command for enumerating Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers. It establishes that providing the target server's IP address without unnecessary flags is the correct method to trace the time source chain.

Candidates often select Option A because they misinterpret the syntax or recall the book incorrectly, failing to notice that '5192.168.1.1' combines the maxhosts value with the IP address, which is syntactically invalid.

Community Discussion (12 comments)

3936e29 👍 1 Selected: D

The default value for maxhosts is 99, by using -m 5 you effectively limit tracing to 5 hops. Which may not result in finished trace. The correct answer is D - ntptrace with no parameters.

Mos3ab 👍 1 Selected: D

The ntptrace command traces a chain of Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers back to their master time source. By default, running ntptrace without any arguments starts the trace from the localhost. However, to trace the NTP servers for a specific server, you should provide its hostname or IP address as an argument. In this case, ntptrace 192.168.1.1 will trace the NTP server chain starting from the server at 192.168.1.1. The -n option disables the resolution of hostnames, displaying IP addresses instead. The -m option sets the maximum number of levels to trace. While these options can be useful, they are not necessary for the basic functionality of tracing the NTP server chain. Therefore, the simplest and most direct command to achieve your objective is ntptrace 192.168.1.1.

MPA3333 👍 1

It's A, there is a typo with a " " missing between 5 and the IP address.

noyon2002 👍 1

I am confused in the book CEH V12 Module 4 Page it is clearly mentioned A, and most of people are answering D

g_man_rap 👍 1

A. ntptrace -n -m 5192.168.1.1 This usage is incorrect because -m expects a numerical argument that specifies the maximum number of hosts to trace, not an IP address. B. ntptrace -m 5192.168.1.1 Similar to option A, this is a misuse of the -m option. It wrongly places an IP address where a number should be, indicating the depth of the trace. C. ntptrace -n localhost This command will start tracing from the local host, and the -n option will ensure that the output remains numerical (IP addresses only), which might not be as informative if you're unfamiliar with the IPs but does provide clean data output. D. ntptrace 192.168.1.1 This is the basic form of the command and correctly targets an NTP server by IP address. It lacks any specific options for depth of trace (-m) or format (-n), but correctly initiates a trace to the specified server.

Spam_Protection 👍 2 Selected: D

It's D. A &B: You're not trying to find max host but trace source of time. C: you use the -n command which means it should give you IP of local host(127.0.0.1) instead of local host , host name.

qtygbapjpesdayazko 👍 1 Selected: D

D. ntptrace 192.168.1.1

athicalacker 👍 3 Selected: D

The -n option is not necessary unless you prefer to see IP addresses instead of hostnames, and the -m option is not necessary unless you want to limit the number of hosts traced. Option C would only be correct if you were running the command on the NTP server itself and you wanted to see IP addresses instead of hostnames.So, the correct answer is option D, ntptrace 192.168.1.1.

LeongCC 👍 1 Selected: A

I think A is more suitable

duke_of_kamulu 👍 1

CEHv12 pg 446 CORRECT ANSWER is A ntptrace This command determines where the NTP server obtains the time from and follows the chain of NTP servers back to its primary time source. Attackers use this command to trace the list of NTP servers connected to the network. Its syntax is as follows: ntptrace [-n] [-m maxhosts] [servername/IP_address]

qwerty100 👍 4

I think is D. ntptrace 192.168.1.1 -m and -n are opcional

insaniunt 👍 1

5192.168.1.1? if: B. ntptrace -m 192.168.1.1 thats correct

Comments & Corrections

No comments yet — spotted an error or have a note? Share it below.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

Option D is the only syntactically correct and logically sound command. The ntptrace utility traces the chain of NTP servers back to the primary time source. The basic syntax is ntptrace [-n] [-m maxhosts] [servername/IP_address]. By passing 192.168.1.1 directly as the argument, you instruct the tool to start tracing from that specific host. This fulfills the objective of finding where the server obtains its time.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Options A and B are incorrect because they misuse the -m option. The -m flag expects a numerical integer representing the maximum number of hosts to trace (e.g., -m 5). In options A and B, the string 5192.168.1.1 is provided, which is not a valid integer; it appears to be a concatenation error or typo in the question text. Option C uses localhost, which would trace the loopback interface (127.0.0.1) rather than the external network server mentioned in the scenario.

Community Comment Notes

The community overwhelmingly voted for D, recognizing that A and B contain syntax errors. One commenter noted, "I think is D. ntptrace 192.168.1.1 -m and -n are opcional." Another clarified, "A &B: You're not trying to find max host but trace source of time... C: you use the -n command which means it should give you IP of local host." While some users referenced the official CEH V12 manual claiming A was correct, the technical reality of the command line makes A impossible to execute correctly as written.

Exam Strategy

When analyzing command-line questions, always verify the syntax requirements of each flag first. If an option presents a clear syntax error (like mixing a numeric flag argument with an IP address), it can be eliminated immediately regardless of what your study materials might suggest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is ntptrace -m 5192.168.1.1 incorrect?

The -m flag requires a pure integer for the hop limit. Concatenating it with an IP address creates a syntax error.

What does ntptrace localhost do?

It attempts to trace the NTP sources for the local loopback interface (127.0.0.1), not the remote network server.

More 312-50v12 FAQ →

Related Analysis

← Back to 312-50v12 Study Guide