- A
The target server must have SMB signing disabled or not enforced
SMB signing prevents relay attacks because the relayed authentication would lack the required signature, causing the target to reject the connection. Without signing enforced, the relay is possible.
- B
The tester must have local administrator privileges on the IIS server
Why wrong: Local admin privileges may help capture traffic but are not strictly required for relaying; the attack relies on capturing an authentication attempt via a technique like responder or a man-in-the-middle position.
- C
The target server must be running SMBv1
Why wrong: While SMBv1 has more vulnerabilities, SMB relay attacks work across SMBv2 and v3 as long as signing is not enforced.
- D
The tester must have a valid domain user account to trigger the relay
Why wrong: The relay attack captures whatever authentication challenge is presented; the attacker does not need a valid account beforehand, only the ability to intercept NTLM authentication (e.g., by tricking a user or service to authenticate to the attacker's machine).
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that the target server must have SMB signing disabled or not enforced. This condition is essential because SMB signing cryptographically binds the authentication packet to the original session; without it, an attacker can intercept an SMB authentication attempt and relay those credentials to a different server, effectively reusing them for lateral movement. On the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how relay attacks bypass network authentication controls—a common trap is assuming that capturing the hash alone is sufficient, when in fact the relay fails if the target enforces signing. Remember the memory tip: “No sign, no bind—relay will find.”
PT0-002 Attacks and Exploits Practice Question
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. A key principle to apply: sMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets.. 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 gained a foothold on a Windows server running IIS. The tester wants to perform an SMB relay attack to move laterally within the domain. Which of the following conditions must be met for this attack to succeed?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The target server must have SMB signing disabled or not enforced
SMB relay attacks work by intercepting an SMB authentication attempt and forwarding it to a target server. For the relay to succeed, the target server must not require SMB signing, or signing must be disabled, because signing cryptographically binds the authentication to the original session, preventing the relayed credentials from being reused. If SMB signing is enforced, the target server will reject the relayed authentication, as the signature will not match the new session.
Key principle: SMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets.
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 server must have SMB signing disabled or not enforced
Why this is correct
SMB signing prevents relay attacks because the relayed authentication would lack the required signature, causing the target to reject the connection. Without signing enforced, the relay is possible.
Related concept
SMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets.
- ✗
The tester must have local administrator privileges on the IIS server
Why it's wrong here
Local admin privileges may help capture traffic but are not strictly required for relaying; the attack relies on capturing an authentication attempt via a technique like responder or a man-in-the-middle position.
- ✗
The target server must be running SMBv1
Why it's wrong here
While SMBv1 has more vulnerabilities, SMB relay attacks work across SMBv2 and v3 as long as signing is not enforced.
- ✗
The tester must have a valid domain user account to trigger the relay
Why it's wrong here
The relay attack captures whatever authentication challenge is presented; the attacker does not need a valid account beforehand, only the ability to intercept NTLM authentication (e.g., by tricking a user or service to authenticate to the attacker's machine).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume SMB relay requires SMBv1 or local admin privileges, but the critical condition is the absence of SMB signing enforcement, which is a common misconfiguration in enterprise environments.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, SMB signing uses a session key derived from the user's credentials to compute a Message Authentication Code (MAC) for each SMB packet. When relaying, the attacker forwards the original authentication challenge-response but cannot compute the correct MAC for the new session without the session key, which is why signing enforcement blocks the attack. In real-world scenarios, many legacy Windows servers (e.g., Windows Server 2008 or earlier) have SMB signing disabled by default, making them prime targets for lateral movement via tools like Responder and Impacket's ntlmrelayx.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- SMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets.
- Disabling SMB signing makes systems vulnerable to NTLM relay attacks.
- SMB signing is enforced via Group Policy or local security policy settings.
- NTLM relay attacks leverage NTLM authentication without signing.
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
SMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. SMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review sMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets., then practise related PT0-002 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PT0-002 question test?
Attacks and Exploits — This question tests Attacks and Exploits — SMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The target server must have SMB signing disabled or not enforced — SMB relay attacks work by intercepting an SMB authentication attempt and forwarding it to a target server. For the relay to succeed, the target server must not require SMB signing, or signing must be disabled, because signing cryptographically binds the authentication to the original session, preventing the relayed credentials from being reused. If SMB signing is enforced, the target server will reject the relayed authentication, as the signature will not match the new session.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Review sMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets., then practise related PT0-002 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
SMB signing verifies the identity of the sender and integrity of SMB packets.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This PT0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PT0-002 exam.
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