CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
A penetration tester is performing a test against a web application. During active reconnaissance, the tester discovers that the application discloses version numbers in HTTP headers. Which phase of the penetration testing lifecycle does this activity belong to?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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Reconnaissance
Active reconnaissance involves directly interacting with the target to gather information, such as by sending probes and analyzing responses. Discovering version numbers via HTTP headers is a form of active reconnaissance because the tester is making requests and inferring information from the responses.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Reconnaissance
Why this is correct
Active reconnaissance is part of the reconnaissance phase, where the tester gathers information directly from the target.
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Post-exploitation
Why it's wrong here
Post-exploitation occurs after gaining access, not during initial information gathering.
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Exploitation
Why it's wrong here
Exploitation involves taking advantage of vulnerabilities to gain access, not just gathering information.
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Reporting
Why it's wrong here
Reporting is the final phase where findings are documented.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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