The Secret Of CompTIA PT0-003 Test Preparation

NEW QUESTION 1
Which of the following is a term used to describe a situation in which a penetration tester bypasses physical access controls and gains access to a facility by entering at the same time as an employee?

• A. Badge cloning
• B. Shoulder surfing
• C. Tailgating
• D. Site survey

Answer: C

Explanation:
Tailgating is the term used to describe a situation where a penetration tester bypasses physical access controls and gains access to a facility by entering at the same time as an employee.
✑ Tailgating:
✑ Physical Security:
✑ Pentest References:
By understanding and using tailgating, penetration testers can evaluate the effectiveness of an organization??s physical security measures and identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.
=================

NEW QUESTION 2
A penetration tester is conducting a wireless security assessment for a client with 2.4GHz and 5GHz access points. The tester places a wireless USB dongle in the laptop to start capturing WPA2 handshakes. Which of the following steps should the tester take next?

• A. Enable monitoring mode using Aircrack-ng.
• B. Use Kismet to automatically place the wireless dongle in monitor mode and collect handshakes.
• C. Run KARMA to break the password.
• D. Research WiGLE.net for potential nearby client access points.

Answer: A

Explanation:
Enabling monitoring mode on the wireless adapter is the essential step before capturing WPA2 handshakes. Monitoring mode allows the adapter to capture all wireless traffic in its vicinity, which is necessary for capturing handshakes.
✑ Preparation:
✑ Enable Monitoring Mode:
Step-by-Step Explanationairmon-ng start wlan0
✑ uk.co.certification.simulator.questionpool.PList@3327f1d6 iwconfig
✑ Capture WPA2 Handshakes: airodump-ng wlan0mon
✑ References from Pentesting Literature: References:
✑ Penetration Testing - A Hands-on Introduction to Hacking
✑ HTB Official Writeups
=================

NEW QUESTION 3
A penetration tester gains access to a Windows machine and wants to further enumerate users with native operating system credentials. Which of the following should the tester use?

• A. route.exe print
• B. netstat.exe -ntp
• C. net.exe commands
• D. strings.exe -a

Answer: C

Explanation:
The net.exe commands are native to the Windows operating system and are used to manage and enumerate network resources, including user accounts.
✑ Using net.exe Commands:
Step-by-Step Explanationnet user
✑ uk.co.certification.simulator.questionpool.PList@339a6471 net user <username>
✑ Additional net.exe Commands: net localgroup
net localgroup <groupname>
✑ uk.co.certification.simulator.questionpool.PList@1b7dbef8 net session
✑ Advantages:
✑ References from Pentesting Literature: References:
✑ Penetration Testing - A Hands-on Introduction to Hacking
✑ HTB Official Writeups
=================

NEW QUESTION 4
A penetration tester wants to use the following Bash script to identify active servers on a network:
1 network_addr="192.168.1"
2 for h in {1..254}; do
3 ping -c 1 -W 1 $network_addr.$h > /dev/null 4 if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
5 echo "Host $h is up" 6 else
7 echo "Host $h is down" 8 fi
9 done
Which of the following should the tester do to modify the script?

• A. Change the condition on line 4.
• B. Add 2>&1 at the end of line 3.
• C. Use seq on the loop on line 2.
• D. Replace $h with ${h} on line 3.

Answer: C

Explanation:
The provided Bash script is used to ping a range of IP addresses to identify active hosts in a network. Here's a detailed breakdown of the script and the necessary modification:
✑ Original Script:
1 network_addr="192.168.1"
2 for h in {1..254}; do
3 ping -c 1 -W 1 $network_addr.$h > /dev/null 4 if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
5 echo "Host $h is up" 6 else
7 echo "Host $h is down" 8 fi
9 done
✑ Analysis:
✑ Using seq for Better Compatibility: for h in $(seq 1 254); do
✑ uk.co.certification.simulator.questionpool.PList@68ca475b
✑ Modified Script:
1 network_addr="192.168.1"
2 for h in $(seq 1 254); do
3 ping -c 1 -W 1 $network_addr.$h > /dev/null 4 if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
5 echo "Host $h is up" 6 else
7 echo "Host $h is down" 8 fi
9 done
=================

NEW QUESTION 5
HOTSPOT
You are a security analyst tasked with hardening a web server.
You have been given a list of HTTP payloads that were flagged as malicious. INSTRUCTIONS
Given the following attack signatures, determine the attack type, and then identify the associated remediation to prevent the attack in the future.
If at any time you would like to bring back the initial state of the simulation, please click the Reset All button.

• A. Yes
• B. Not Mastered

Answer: A

NEW QUESTION 6
A penetration tester needs to identify all vulnerable input fields on a customer website. Which of the following tools would be best suited to complete this request?

• A. DAST
• B. SAST
• C. IAST
• D. SCA

Answer: A

Explanation:
✑ Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST):
✑ Advantages of DAST:
✑ Examples of DAST Tools:
Pentest References:
✑ Web Application Testing: Understanding the importance of testing web applications for security vulnerabilities and the role of different testing methodologies.
✑ Security Testing Tools: Familiarity with various security testing tools and their applications in penetration testing.
✑ DAST vs. SAST: Knowing the difference between DAST (dynamic testing) and SAST (static testing) and when to use each method.
By using a DAST tool, the penetration tester can effectively identify all vulnerable input fields on the customer website, ensuring a thorough assessment of the application's security.
=================

NEW QUESTION 7
As part of an engagement, a penetration tester wants to maintain access to a compromised system after rebooting. Which of the following techniques would be best for the tester to use?

• A. Establishing a reverse shell
• B. Executing a process injection attack
• C. Creating a scheduled task
• D. Performing a credential-dumping attack

Answer: C

Explanation:
To maintain access to a compromised system after rebooting, a penetration tester should create a scheduled task. Scheduled tasks are designed to run automatically at specified times or when certain conditions are met, ensuring persistence across reboots.
✑ Persistence Mechanisms:
✑ Creating a Scheduled Task:
schtasks /create /tn "Persistence" /tr "C:\path\to\malicious.exe" /sc onlogon /ru SYSTEM
✑ uk.co.certification.simulator.questionpool.PList@7b2e6d1d (crontab -l; echo "@reboot /path/to/malicious.sh") | crontab -
✑ Pentest References:
By creating a scheduled task, the penetration tester ensures that their access method (e.g., reverse shell, malware) is executed automatically whenever the system reboots, providing reliable persistence.
=================

NEW QUESTION 8
A penetration tester is developing the rules of engagement for a potential client. Which of the following would most likely be a function of the rules of engagement?

• A. Testing window
• B. Terms of service
• C. Authorization letter
• D. Shared responsibilities

Answer: A

Explanation:
The rules of engagement define the scope, limitations, and conditions under which a penetration test is conducted. Here??s why option A is correct:
✑ Testing Window: This specifies the time frame during which the penetration testing activities are authorized to occur. It is a crucial part of the rules of engagement to ensure the testing does not disrupt business operations and is conducted within agreed-upon hours.
✑ Terms of Service: This generally refers to the legal agreement between a service provider and user, not specific to penetration testing engagements.
✑ Authorization Letter: This provides formal permission for the penetration tester to perform the assessment but is not a component of the rules of engagement.
✑ Shared Responsibilities: This refers to the division of security responsibilities between parties, often seen in cloud service agreements, but not specifically a function of the rules of engagement.
References from Pentest:
✑ Luke HTB: Highlights the importance of clearly defining the testing window in the rules of engagement to ensure all parties are aligned.
✑ Forge HTB: Demonstrates the significance of having a well-defined testing window to avoid disruptions and ensure compliance during the assessment.
=================

NEW QUESTION 9
During a penetration testing engagement, a tester targets the internet-facing services used by the client. Which of the following describes the type of assessment that should be considered in this scope of work?

• A. Segmentation
• B. Mobile
• C. External
• D. Web

Answer: C

Explanation:
An external assessment focuses on testing the security of internet-facing services. Here??s why option C is correct:
✑ External Assessment: It involves evaluating the security posture of services exposed to the internet, such as web servers, mail servers, and other public-facing infrastructure. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers from outside the organization??s network.
✑ Segmentation: This type of assessment focuses on ensuring that different parts of a network are appropriately segmented to limit the spread of attacks. It??s more relevant to internal network architecture.
✑ Mobile: This assessment targets mobile applications and devices, not general internet-facing services.
✑ Web: While web assessments focus on web applications, the scope of an external assessment is broader and includes all types of internet-facing services.
References from Pentest:
✑ Horizontall HTB: Highlights the importance of assessing external services to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited from outside the network.
✑ Luke HTB: Demonstrates the process of evaluating public-facing services to ensure their security.
Conclusion:
Option C, External, is the most appropriate type of assessment for targeting internet-facing services used by the client.
=================

NEW QUESTION 10
Which of the following OT protocols sends information in cleartext?

• A. TTEthernet
• B. DNP3
• C. Modbus
• D. PROFINET

Answer: C

Explanation:
Operational Technology (OT) protocols are used in industrial control systems (ICS) to manage and automate physical processes. Here??s an analysis of each protocol regarding whether it sends information in cleartext:
✑ TTEthernet (Option A):
✑ DNP3 (Option B):
✑ Modbus (Answer: C):
✑ PROFINET (Option D):
Conclusion: Modbus is the protocol that most commonly sends information in cleartext, making it vulnerable to eavesdropping and interception.

NEW QUESTION 11
A penetration tester performs an assessment on the target company's Kubernetes cluster using kube-hunter. Which of the following types of vulnerabilities could be detected with the tool?

• A. Network configuration errors in Kubernetes services
• B. Weaknesses and misconfigurations in the Kubernetes cluster
• C. Application deployment issues in Kubernetes
• D. Security vulnerabilities specific to Docker containers

Answer: B

Explanation:
kube-hunter is a tool designed to perform security assessments on Kubernetes clusters. It identifies various vulnerabilities, focusing on weaknesses and misconfigurations. Here??s why option B is correct:
✑ Kube-hunter: It scans Kubernetes clusters to identify security issues, such as
misconfigurations, insecure settings, and potential attack vectors.
✑ Network Configuration Errors: While kube-hunter might identify some network- related issues, its primary focus is on Kubernetes-specific vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
✑ Application Deployment Issues: These are more related to the applications running within the cluster, not the cluster configuration itself.
✑ Security Vulnerabilities in Docker Containers: Kube-hunter focuses on the Kubernetes environment rather than Docker container-specific vulnerabilities.
References from Pentest:
✑ Forge HTB: Highlights the use of specialized tools to identify misconfigurations in environments, similar to how kube-hunter operates within Kubernetes clusters.
✑ Anubis HTB: Demonstrates the importance of identifying and fixing misconfigurations within complex environments like Kubernetes clusters.
Conclusion:
Option B, weaknesses and misconfigurations in the Kubernetes cluster, accurately describes the type of vulnerabilities that kube-hunter is designed to detect.
=================

NEW QUESTION 12
During an assessment, a penetration tester wants to extend the vulnerability search to include the use of dynamic testing. Which of the following tools should the tester use?

• A. Mimikatz
• B. ZAP
• C. OllyDbg
• D. SonarQube

Answer: B

Explanation:
✑ Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST):
✑ ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy):
✑ Other Tools:
Pentest References:
✑ Web Application Security Testing: Utilizing DAST tools like ZAP to dynamically test and find vulnerabilities in running web applications.
✑ OWASP Tools: Leveraging open-source tools recommended by OWASP for comprehensive security testing.
By using ZAP, the penetration tester can perform dynamic testing to identify runtime vulnerabilities in web applications, extending the scope of the vulnerability search.
=================

NEW QUESTION 13
A penetration tester is evaluating a SCADA system. The tester receives local access to a workstation that is running a single application. While navigating through the application, the tester opens a terminal window and gains access to the underlying operating system. Which of the following attacks is the tester performing?

• A. Kiosk escape
• B. Arbitrary code execution
• C. Process hollowing
• D. Library injection

Answer: A

Explanation:
A kiosk escape involves breaking out of a restricted environment, such as a kiosk or a single application interface, to access the underlying operating system. Here??s why option A is correct:
✑ Kiosk Escape: This attack targets environments where user access is intentionally
limited, such as a kiosk or a dedicated application. The goal is to break out of these restrictions and gain access to the full operating system.
✑ Arbitrary Code Execution: This involves running unauthorized code on the system,
but the scenario described is more about escaping a restricted environment.
✑ Process Hollowing: This technique involves injecting code into a legitimate process, making it appear benign while executing malicious activities.
✑ Library Injection: This involves injecting malicious code into a running process by
loading a malicious library, which is not the focus in this scenario.
References from Pentest:
✑ Forge HTB: Demonstrates techniques to escape restricted environments and gain broader access to the system.
✑ Horizontall HTB: Shows methods to break out of limited access environments, aligning with the concept of kiosk escape.
Conclusion:
Option A, Kiosk escape, accurately describes the type of attack where a tester breaks out of a restricted environment to access the underlying operating system.
=================

NEW QUESTION 14
A penetration tester creates a list of target domains that require further enumeration. The tester writes the following script to perform vulnerability scanning across the domains:
line 1: #!/usr/bin/bash
line 2: DOMAINS_LIST = "/path/to/list.txt" line 3: while read -r i; do
line 4: nikto -h $i -o scan-$i.txt & line 5: done
The script does not work as intended. Which of the following should the tester do to fix the script?

• A. Change line 2 to {"domain1", "domain2", "domain3", }.
• B. Change line 3 to while true; read -r i; do.
• C. Change line 4 to nikto $i | tee scan-$i.txt.
• D. Change line 5 to done < "$DOMAINS_LIST".

Answer: D

Explanation:
The issue with the script lies in how the while loop reads the file containing the list of domains. The current script doesn't correctly redirect the file's content to the loop. Changing line 5 to done < "$DOMAINS_LIST" correctly directs the loop to read from the file.
Step-by-Step Explanation
✑ Original Script: DOMAINS_LIST="/path/to/list.txt" while read -r i; do
nikto -h $i -o scan-$i.txt & done
✑ Identified Problem:
✑ Solution: DOMAINS_LIST="/path/to/list.txt" while read -r i; do
nikto -h $i -o scan-$i.txt & done < "$DOMAINS_LIST"
✑ Explanation
✑ References from Pentesting Literature:
=================

NEW QUESTION 15
After a recent penetration test was conducted by the company's penetration testing team, a systems administrator notices the following in the logs:
2/10/2023 05:50AM C:\users\mgranite\schtasks /query
2/10/2023 05:53AM C:\users\mgranite\schtasks /CREATE /SC DAILY
Which of the following best explains the team's objective?

• A. To enumerate current users
• B. To determine the users' permissions
• C. To view scheduled processes
• D. To create persistence in the network

Answer: D

Explanation:
The logs indicate that the penetration testing team??s objective was to create persistence in the network.
✑ Log Analysis:
✑ Persistence:
✑ Other Options:
Pentest References:
✑ Post-Exploitation: Establishing persistence is a key objective after gaining initial access to ensure continued access.
✑ Scheduled Tasks: Utilizing Windows Task Scheduler to run scripts or programs automatically at specified times as a method for maintaining access.
By creating scheduled tasks, the penetration testing team aims to establish persistence, ensuring they can retain access to the system over time.
=================

NEW QUESTION 16
A penetration tester is conducting reconnaissance on a target network. The tester runs the following Nmap command: nmap -sv -sT -p - 192.168.1.0/24. Which of the following
describes the most likely purpose of this scan?

• A. OS fingerprinting
• B. Attack path mapping
• C. Service discovery
• D. User enumeration

Answer: C

Explanation:
The Nmap command nmap -sv -sT -p- 192.168.1.0/24 is designed to discover services on a network. Here is a breakdown of the command and its purpose:
✑ Command Breakdown:
✑ Purpose of the Scan:
Conclusion: The nmap -sv -sT -p- 192.168.1.0/24 command is most likely used for service discovery, as it aims to identify all running services and their versions on the target subnet.

NEW QUESTION 17
Which of the following is most important when communicating the need for vulnerability remediation to a client at the conclusion of a penetration test?

• A. Articulation of cause
• B. Articulation of impact
• C. Articulation of escalation
• D. Articulation of alignment

Answer: B

Explanation:
When concluding a penetration test, effectively communicating the need for vulnerability remediation is crucial. Here??s why the articulation of impact is the most important aspect:
✑ Articulation of Cause (Option A):
✑ Articulation of Impact (Option B):
✑ Articulation of Escalation (Option C):
✑ Articulation of Alignment (Option D):
Conclusion: Articulating the impact of vulnerabilities is the most crucial element when communicating the need for remediation. By clearly explaining the potential risks and consequences, penetration testers can effectively convey the urgency and importance of addressing the discovered issues, thus motivating clients to take prompt and appropriate action.

NEW QUESTION 18
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