A penetration tester has compromised a Windows workstation and obtained a low-privileged domain user account. The tester discovers that this user belongs to a group that has the 'GenericWrite' privilege over a computer object in Active Directory. Which attack is most directly enabled by this misconfiguration?
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.
Distractor review
Kerberoasting
Kerberoasting requires an account with a Service Principal Name (SPN) and the ability to request a service ticket. GenericWrite over a computer object does not directly enable Kerberoasting.
Best answer
Shadow Credentials
With GenericWrite over a computer object, the tester can write to the msDS-KeyCredentialLink attribute to add a rogue key credential, enabling a Shadow Credentials attack to request a TGT for the computer account.
Distractor review
AS-REP Roasting
AS-REP roasting targets accounts that do not require Kerberos pre-authentication. GenericWrite over a computer object does not affect pre-authentication settings.
Distractor review
DCSync Attack
DCSync requires the Replication-Get-Changes-All extended right. GenericWrite on a computer object does not grant replication rights.
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
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.
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: Shadow Credentials — The 'GenericWrite' privilege over a computer object allows the tester to write to attributes of that object, including the 'msDS-KeyCredentialLink' attribute. By writing a rogue key credential, the tester can perform a 'Shadow Credentials' attack to obtain a TGT for that computer account, which can then be used to impersonate the machine and potentially gain access to other resources. The other options are incorrect: Kerberoasting requires an SPN, AS-REP roasting requires no pre-auth, and DCSync requires Replication-Get-Changes rights.
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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