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hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped

A penetration tester has discovered a local file inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in a PHP web application. The vulnerable code uses the following pattern: include($_GET['page']);. The application runs on a Linux server with Apache and PHP. The tester wants to achieve remote code execution (RCE). Which technique is most likely to succeed given this LFI?

Question 1hardmultiple choice
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A penetration tester has discovered a local file inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in a PHP web application. The vulnerable code uses the following pattern: include($_GET['page']);. The application runs on a Linux server with Apache and PHP. The tester wants to achieve remote code execution (RCE). Which technique is most likely to succeed given this LFI?

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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

Best answer

Use the php://input wrapper and send PHP code in the POST body.

php://input reads the raw POST data. When included, the PHP interpreter will execute any code contained in the POST body. This is a common technique to turn LFI into RCE, and it does not require allow_url_include to be enabled.

B

Distractor review

Use the file:// wrapper to read sensitive files like /etc/passwd.

File reading via file:// can retrieve sensitive information but does not achieve code execution. It is useful for information gathering, not RCE.

C

Distractor review

Use the data:// wrapper with a base64-encoded PHP payload.

The data:// wrapper allows inline data inclusion. However, it relies on allow_url_include being enabled, which is often disabled for security reasons. Therefore, it is less reliable than php://input.

D

Distractor review

Set allow_url_include to On in php.ini via the LFI.

The LFI vulnerability allows inclusion of files but not modification of server configuration. Changing php.ini requires write access or other exploitation, which is not possible through LFI alone.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic

NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
  • PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
  • Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
  • NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.

TExam Day Tips

  • Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
  • Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
  • Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.

Related practice questions

Related PT0-002 practice-question pages

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PT0-002 fundamentals practice questions

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PT0-002 scenario practice questions

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PT0-002 troubleshooting practice questions

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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?

Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Use the php://input wrapper and send PHP code in the POST body. — With allow_url_include often disabled, remote file inclusion is unreliable. The php://input PHP wrapper allows reading raw POST data and executing it if the include() function processes it. By sending a POST request with PHP code in the body, the tester can achieve arbitrary code execution. This technique works regardless of allow_url_include settings.

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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