Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A penetration tester is attempting to exploit a Linux system that has ASLR and DEP enabled. The tester has identified a buffer overflow vulnerability in a network service compiled without stack canaries and with a non-executable stack (NX). The binary is statically linked and not PIE. Which exploitation technique is most likely to succeed under these conditions?
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
Heap spraying to place shellcode in the heap and then overwrite a function pointer to execute the shellcode
Heap spraying is often used when ASLR is present, but NX still prevents execution from the heap unless the heap is made executable. Also, the binary is not PIE, so addresses are known, but the heap may still be non-executable.
B
Distractor review
Return-to-libc attack using libc functions
Return-to-libc is a technique against NX, but since the binary is statically linked (no libc loaded dynamically), the attacker would need to use gadgets from the binary itself, not libc.
C
Best answer
Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) to call mprotect and then execute shellcode on the stack
ROP allows the attacker to chain gadgets to call mprotect and change memory permissions on the stack to executable, then jump to shellcode placed on the stack. This bypasses NX while leveraging the known addresses from the statically linked, non-PIE binary.
D
Distractor review
Ret2plt to call system() via the PLT
Ret2plt is used against dynamically linked binaries to call functions from libc; since the binary is statically linked, there is no PLT/GOT.
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.
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: Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) to call mprotect and then execute shellcode on the stack — With NX enabled, the attacker cannot directly execute shellcode on the stack. However, since the binary is not PIE and statically linked, the attacker can use return-oriented programming (ROP) to chain together gadgets (existing code snippets) from the binary itself to perform a system call or execute desired commands. The attacker would typically call mprotect to make a memory region executable or directly invoke execve with arguments placed via ROP.
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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