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A penetration tester has gained initial access to a Linux server through a vulnerable web application. The server has a restrictive outbound firewall that only allows traffic on ports 80, 443, and 53. The tester wants to establish a reverse shell that is likely to bypass the firewall. Which of the following techniques would be most effective?

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A penetration tester has gained initial access to a Linux server through a vulnerable web application. The server has a restrictive outbound firewall that only allows traffic on ports 80, 443, and 53. The tester wants to establish a reverse shell that is likely to bypass the firewall. Which of the following techniques would be most effective?

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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

Distractor review

Use a reverse shell listener on TCP port 3389 and connect from the target

Port 3389 is Remote Desktop Protocol, which is likely not allowed outbound unless explicitly permitted. The firewall only allows ports 80, 443, and 53.

B

Distractor review

Use a bind shell on the target's port 4444 and connect directly

A bind shell opens a listening port on the target, but outbound connectivity from the tester to that port may be blocked by firewalls on the tester's side, and inbound connections to the target are likely also restricted.

C

Best answer

Use a reverse shell over DNS by encoding commands in DNS queries

DNS traffic (UDP 53) is often allowed outbound for name resolution. Tools like dnscat2 can encapsulate data in DNS packets, enabling a reverse shell that can bypass the firewall.

D

Distractor review

Use a reverse shell on TCP port 8080 and hope it is not blocked

Port 8080 is not in the allowed list (80, 443, 53). The firewall would likely block this outbound connection.

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.

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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?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Use a reverse shell over DNS by encoding commands in DNS queries — DNS tunneling is a known technique for bypassing firewalls that allow DNS traffic (UDP 53). The tester can encode commands and data within DNS queries and responses, creating a covert communication channel. Other ports like 3389 or 8080 are typically blocked unless specifically allowed.

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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