CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
During a penetration test, the tester has gained initial access to a web server and wants to move laterally to a database server. Which of the following techniques would be most effective for identifying valid credentials that could be reused on the database server?
⚠ Common exam trap
CAS-005 often tests the distinction between reconnaissance actions (port scanning, web shell deployment) and credential-access techniques, tricking candidates into selecting an option that provides access or persistence rather than the credential discovery the question explicitly asks for.
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
✓
Using Mimikatz to dump credentials from memory
Mimikatz extracts plaintext passwords, NTLM hashes, and Kerberos tickets from LSASS memory on a compromised Windows host. Because administrators frequently reuse local or domain credentials across servers, harvested credentials can be replayed against the database server via SMB, RDP, or native database authentication. This directly satisfies the objective of identifying reusable valid credentials for lateral movement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Running a port scan on the internal network
Why it's wrong here
A port scan reveals open services and reachable hosts, not credentials. It is tempting because it maps the internal network and identifies the database listener, which is useful reconnaissance, but lateral movement requires valid authentication material that scanning cannot extract from the web server.
- ✗
Deploying a web shell for persistent access
Why it's wrong here
A web shell provides persistent remote command execution on the compromised web server; it does not harvest or replay credentials for the database server. It is tempting because shells enable further enumeration, but credential discovery requires reading configuration files, memory, or environment variables where database secrets actually reside.
- ✗
Conducting a SQL injection on the database server
Why it's wrong here
SQL injection against the database server targets data extraction or command execution, not credential harvesting for reuse. It is tempting because injection often yields sensitive records, but the scenario needs credentials stored on the already-compromised web server, such as connection strings in configuration files.
- ✓
Using Mimikatz to dump credentials from memory
Why this is correct
Mimikatz extracts plaintext passwords, NTLM hashes and Kerberos tickets from LSASS memory on the compromised host. Reused local or domain credentials harvested this way frequently authenticate to the database server, satisfying the objective of finding valid reusable credentials.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CAS-005 exam.