This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of attacks and exploits. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A penetration tester has compromised a host and wants to move laterally to a server using pass-the-hash. Which of the following is required for a successful pass-the-hash attack against a Windows target?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The target must have the same local admin password hash
Pass-the-hash (PtH) attacks exploit the NTLM challenge-response authentication mechanism. When a target has the same local administrator password hash as the compromised host, the attacker can use the captured hash to authenticate to the target without knowing the plaintext password. This works because Windows caches the password hash in LSASS, and tools like Mimikatz can extract it for replay.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The target must have SMB signing enabled
Why it's wrong here
SMB signing would prevent relay, but pass-the-hash still works as long as signing is not enforced.
✓
The target must have the same local admin password hash
Why this is correct
If the local admin account on the target has the same hash, the attacker can authenticate using that hash.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The target must have a user account with the same password
Why it's wrong here
Pass-the-hash uses the hash, not the password, and requires the same local account hash, not just same password.
✗
The target must have the same machine account hash
Why it's wrong here
Machine account hashes are used for domain logins, not pass-the-hash for lateral movement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that pass-the-hash requires the plaintext password or that SMB signing is a prerequisite, when in fact the hash alone suffices and SMB signing would block the attack.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, NTLMv1/v2 hashes are stored in the SAM database and LSASS memory. The PtH attack works by injecting the hash into a network authentication session; tools like Mimikatz's sekurlsa::pth or Impacket's psexec.py use the hash to compute the NTLM response. In real-world scenarios, PtH is often used against servers with identical local admin hashes due to default image deployment or lack of credential diversity.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PT0-002 question in full detail.
Attacks and Exploits — This question tests Attacks and Exploits — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The target must have the same local admin password hash — Pass-the-hash (PtH) attacks exploit the NTLM challenge-response authentication mechanism. When a target has the same local administrator password hash as the compromised host, the attacker can use the captured hash to authenticate to the target without knowing the plaintext password. This works because Windows caches the password hash in LSASS, and tools like Mimikatz can extract it for replay.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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