XK0-006 Security Practice Question
A technician needs to generate a self-signed certificate for an internal web server. Which OpenSSL command creates a new private key and a certificate signing request (CSR) in one step?
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
✓
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout server.key -out server.csr
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout server.key -out server.csr creates both key and CSR.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout server.key -out server.crt
Why it's wrong here
This creates a self-signed certificate, not a CSR.
- ✗
openssl genrsa -out server.key 2048 && openssl req -new -key server.key -out server.csr
Why it's wrong here
This is two steps but also valid, but question asks for one step.
- ✗
openssl ca -new -key server.key -out server.csr
Why it's wrong here
openssl ca is for CA operations, not generating CSR.
- ✓
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout server.key -out server.csr
Why this is correct
One-step creation of key and CSR.
Quick reference
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This XK0-006 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 XK0-006 exam.