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. 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 attempting a pass-the-hash (PtH) attack against a Windows domain-joined machine. The tester has obtained the NTLM hash of a local administrator account. Which tool can be used directly to authenticate using the hash to gain remote command execution?
Why wrong: John the Ripper is a password cracking tool, not a remote execution tool. It is used to crack hashes, not to use them for authentication.
B
Metasploit's psexec module
The psexec module in Metasploit allows authentication with a plaintext password or NTLM hash to execute commands on a remote Windows system via SMB.
C
Mimikatz
Why wrong: Mimikatz can perform pass-the-hash locally (e.g., to spawn a command prompt as the target user) but is not designed for direct remote command execution; it would require additional tools like PsExec or Schtasks.
D
Nmap
Why wrong: Nmap is a network scanner and cannot authenticate or execute commands using hashes.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Metasploit's psexec module
Metasploit's psexec module (exploit/windows/smb/psexec) directly accepts an NTLM hash via the 'SMBPass' option and uses it to authenticate over SMB, then creates a service on the target to execute commands. This is a classic pass-the-hash technique against Windows systems, as the module leverages the SMB protocol and Windows service control manager without needing the plaintext password.
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.
✗
John the Ripper
Why it's wrong here
John the Ripper is a password cracking tool, not a remote execution tool. It is used to crack hashes, not to use them for authentication.
✓
Metasploit's psexec module
Why this is correct
The psexec module in Metasploit allows authentication with a plaintext password or NTLM hash to execute commands on a remote Windows system via SMB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Mimikatz
Why it's wrong here
Mimikatz can perform pass-the-hash locally (e.g., to spawn a command prompt as the target user) but is not designed for direct remote command execution; it would require additional tools like PsExec or Schtasks.
✗
Nmap
Why it's wrong here
Nmap is a network scanner and cannot authenticate or execute commands using hashes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Mimikatz's ability to perform pass-the-hash locally (spawning a cmd.exe with the hash) with the ability to directly execute commands remotely, but Mimikatz requires additional tools like PsExec or WinRM to achieve remote execution, whereas Metasploit's psexec module is a single-step solution.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Mimikatz can perform pass-the-hash locally (e.g., to spawn a command prompt as the target user) but is not designed for direct remote command execution; it would require additional tools like PsExec or Schtasks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The pass-the-hash attack works because NTLM authentication uses the hash itself as the credential; the server sends a challenge, and the client computes an HMAC-MD5 response using the hash, so possession of the hash is sufficient to authenticate. Metasploit's psexec module implements this by connecting to the ADMIN$ share over SMB, uploading a binary service, and starting it via the Windows Service Control Manager (SCM) using the NTLM hash for authentication. In real-world engagements, this technique is often used after dumping hashes from a compromised machine to pivot laterally without cracking passwords.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PT0-002 question in full detail.
Attacks and Exploits — This question tests Attacks and Exploits — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Metasploit's psexec module — Metasploit's psexec module (exploit/windows/smb/psexec) directly accepts an NTLM hash via the 'SMBPass' option and uses it to authenticate over SMB, then creates a service on the target to execute commands. This is a classic pass-the-hash technique against Windows systems, as the module leverages the SMB protocol and Windows service control manager without needing the plaintext password.
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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Question Discussion
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