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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?

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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 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

The target must have SMB signing enabled

SMB signing would prevent relay, but pass-the-hash still works as long as signing is not enforced.

B

Best answer

The target must have the same local admin password hash

If the local admin account on the target has the same hash, the attacker can authenticate using that hash.

C

Distractor review

The target must have a user account with the same password

Pass-the-hash uses the hash, not the password, and requires the same local account hash, not just same password.

D

Distractor review

The target must have the same machine account hash

Machine account hashes are used for domain logins, not pass-the-hash for lateral movement.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • 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.

Related practice questions

Related PT0-002 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

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.

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PT0-002 question test?

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 works by using the NTLM hash of a local account. For lateral movement, the target machine must have the same local admin password hash as the source machine (or the same credentials). SMB signing (A) prevents relay attacks, but pass-the-hash still works if signing is not required. Machine account hash (D) is for machine authentication, not user-level access.

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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