Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Practice Exam 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

During the Gaining Access phase of a hack, the primary focus is on successfully breaching the target's defenses after information gathering and assessment have been performed. This phase is characterized by the launch of attacks aimed at exploiting vulnerabilities identified in the previous steps. The objective is to gain unauthorized access to the system, which can involve various techniques such as exploiting software vulnerabilities, password cracking, phishing, or installation of malware.

This phase follows the groundwork laid in earlier stages, where the hacker collects information and assesses potential weaknesses. Once a suitable method has been determined, it is executed with the intent of overcoming the security measures in place. Achieving access signifies a crucial step in the hacking process, as it allows the attacker to explore and manipulate the compromised system or data.

Other activities such as gathering information about the network and assessing threats are preparatory steps that precede the gaining access phase, while concealing access points pertains to post-exploitation activities aimed at maintaining access without detection.