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A client requests a penetration test of their network and provides a list of IP addresses. During scoping, the tester notices that several IP addresses belong to a major cloud service provider. What should the tester do FIRST before including those IP addresses in the test?

Question 1easymultiple choice
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A client requests a penetration test of their network and provides a list of IP addresses. During scoping, the tester notices that several IP addresses belong to a major cloud service provider. What should the tester do FIRST before including those IP addresses in the test?

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Answer choices

Why each option matters

Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.

A

Distractor review

Proceed with testing since the client provided the IP addresses

The client may not own or have permission to test those IPs. Testing without authorization could be considered illegal access.

B

Best answer

Ask the client to verify ownership and obtain written authorization from the cloud provider if needed

This ensures that testing is performed legally and ethically, with proper authorization from all parties involved.

C

Distractor review

Exclude the cloud IP addresses from the scope without further discussion

Excluding them might leave critical assets untested if the client does own them. The tester should clarify ownership first.

D

Distractor review

Perform a quick port scan to determine if the IPs are responsive before deciding

Even scanning without authorization can be considered a violation of law or cloud provider policy.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization

Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Authentication checks who the user is.
  • Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
  • Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
  • AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.

TExam Day Tips

  • Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
  • Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
  • Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.

Related practice questions

Related PT0-002 practice-question pages

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More questions from this exam

Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.

Question 1

A penetration tester is writing the executive summary for a report. The client's CEO needs to understand the business impact of a critical SQL injection vulnerability. Which of the following should the tester include?

Question 2

A penetration tester has gained a low-privileged shell on a Linux server. During enumeration, the tester discovers a binary with the SUID bit set that belongs to root and is known to have a buffer overflow vulnerability. What is the MOST effective next step to escalate privileges?

Question 3

A penetration tester is performing passive reconnaissance against a target domain. Which of the following resources can be used to gather information about the target without directly sending packets to the target's network? (Select two.) (Choose 2.)

Question 4

A penetration tester has obtained a TGT from a domain controller by cracking the krbtgt hash. Which attack can the tester now perform to gain persistent administrative access to any resource in the domain?

Question 5

A penetration tester is writing the executive summary for the final report. The CEO needs to understand the overall risk level and the business impact of the findings. Which of the following should be included in the executive summary?

Question 6

A penetration tester is writing the executive summary of a penetration test report. Which of the following elements is MOST important to include for a non-technical audience?

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PT0-002 question test?

Authentication checks who the user is.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Ask the client to verify ownership and obtain written authorization from the cloud provider if needed — Including third-party IPs without explicit authorization can lead to legal issues and violate the cloud provider's terms of service. The tester must first confirm with the client that they have ownership or explicit permission to test those resources. Proceeding without verification is unethical and could have legal consequences.

What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?

Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.

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