- A
Accept the finding as accurate and include it in the report
Why wrong: False positives should not be reported without verification.
- B
Remove the finding from the report entirely
Why wrong: The finding should be investigated, not simply removed.
- C
Manually verify the vulnerability by testing it
Manual verification confirms if the vulnerability exists.
- D
Ignore the finding because it's a false positive
Why wrong: Ignoring without verification may miss real issues.
Question 719 of 1,000
PT0-002 Practice Question: Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning
This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of information gathering and vulnerability scanning. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 is analyzing the output of a Nessus vulnerability scan and notices a critical vulnerability reported against a web server that is actually a false positive due to outdated plugin data. What is the best course of action for the tester?
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
✓
Manually verify the vulnerability by testing it
Option C is correct because a false positive due to outdated plugin data must be manually verified before any action is taken. The tester should use a tool like `curl` or a browser to send the exact request that Nessus simulated (e.g., an HTTP GET to a specific endpoint) and inspect the response headers or body to confirm whether the vulnerability actually exists. Only after manual validation can the tester decide to include, exclude, or note the finding in the report.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Accept the finding as accurate and include it in the report
Why it's wrong here
False positives should not be reported without verification.
- ✗
Remove the finding from the report entirely
Why it's wrong here
The finding should be investigated, not simply removed.
- ✓
Manually verify the vulnerability by testing it
Why this is correct
Manual verification confirms if the vulnerability exists.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ignore the finding because it's a false positive
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring without verification may miss real issues.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a false positive should be removed or ignored outright, but the correct approach is to manually verify the finding to ensure the vulnerability is truly absent before making any reporting decision.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Nessus plugins are written in NASL (Nessus Attack Scripting Language) and rely on version checks or banner grabbing; outdated plugins may match against old signatures that no longer apply after a patch. Manual verification often involves sending a crafted HTTP request (e.g., `curl -v -X OPTIONS http://target`) and comparing the response to known vulnerability patterns, such as checking for specific headers like `Server: Apache/2.4.6` that might indicate a vulnerable version. In a real-world scenario, a tester might find that a critical CVE-2021-41773 (Apache path traversal) false positive occurs because the plugin detected an old banner but the server was actually patched with a backported fix.
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.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PT0-002 question test?
Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — This question tests Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Manually verify the vulnerability by testing it — Option C is correct because a false positive due to outdated plugin data must be manually verified before any action is taken. The tester should use a tool like `curl` or a browser to send the exact request that Nessus simulated (e.g., an HTTP GET to a specific endpoint) and inspect the response headers or body to confirm whether the vulnerability actually exists. Only after manual validation can the tester decide to include, exclude, or note the finding in the report.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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