hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped

A penetration tester has exploited a web application and found that the server has an outbound firewall that restricts all outbound traffic except for DNS queries (UDP 53). The tester has a reverse shell payload that connects back on TCP 443. Which technique can the tester use to exfiltrate data or establish a channel?

Question 1hardmultiple choice
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A penetration tester has exploited a web application and found that the server has an outbound firewall that restricts all outbound traffic except for DNS queries (UDP 53). The tester has a reverse shell payload that connects back on TCP 443. Which technique can the tester use to exfiltrate data or establish a channel?

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

Use netcat to send data over TCP 53

The outbound firewall blocks TCP 53 as well if it is restrictive; the exception is only for UDP 53. Netcat over TCP would be blocked.

B

Distractor review

Use an SSH tunnel over UDP 53

SSH tunnels operate over TCP, not UDP. Even if you could encapsulate SSH in UDP, it is not standard and would require special setup.

C

Best answer

Use dnscat2 or other DNS tunneling tool

DNS tunneling encodes data in DNS queries, which are permitted by the firewall. This allows the tester to establish a channel and exfiltrate data.

D

Distractor review

Use a bind shell listening on TCP 443 internally

A bind shell requires the tester to connect to the server from the outside, but the outbound firewall does not affect inbound connections. However, the server's public IP may still be reachable, but the tester would need to know the server's IP and the bind shell port to connect. This does not bypass the outbound restriction for the reverse shell, and the bind shell may be blocked by an inbound firewall as well.

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: Use dnscat2 or other DNS tunneling tool — DNS tunneling allows encapsulation of data inside DNS queries and responses, which can bypass firewalls that allow UDP 53. Tools like dnscat2 can create a command-and-control channel over DNS. Other options either use a blocked protocol or are not applicable.

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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