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PT0-002 Practice Question: A penetration tester is conducting a…
A penetration tester is conducting a vulnerability scan of a network segment that contains several legacy servers. The tester uses a commercial vulnerability scanner with default settings. The scan completes and reports a critical vulnerability on a server running an outdated version of Apache with known remote code execution. However, the tester suspects this might be a false positive because the server is behind an application-layer firewall that blocks the specific exploit. Which of the following steps should the tester take to confirm the vulnerability?
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 test the vulnerability by sending a crafted exploit payload to the server
The correct option is C: manually test the vulnerability by sending a crafted exploit payload to the server. This is the only way to confirm whether the reported Apache RCE is actually exploitable in this scenario, since a vulnerability scanner's default settings can produce false positives and an application-layer firewall may block the exploit even if the underlying service is vulnerable. Manual exploitation validates the finding end-to-end rather than relying on scanner signatures or assumptions. Option A is wrong because increasing scan intensity does not prove exploitability and may still be blocked or produce the same signature-based result. Option B is wrong because a firewall blocking one exploit path does not mean the vulnerability is absent or unexploitable via other vectors. Option D is wrong because firewall logs only show whether the scanner's traffic was blocked, not whether the vulnerability itself is real or exploitable.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Rerun the scan with increased intensity to ensure the vulnerability is real
Why it's wrong here
Increasing scan intensity only repeats the same signature-based detection; it cannot verify exploitability through the application-layer firewall. It is tempting because intensity settings reduce false negatives, but manual exploitation or a safe proof-of-concept request is what actually confirms reachability.
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Ignore the finding because the vulnerability is protected by the firewall
Why it's wrong here
An application-layer firewall blocking one exploit path does not remove the underlying vulnerable Apache version, so the finding stays valid until verified. Ignoring it is tempting because compensating controls can reduce real-world exploitability, but confirmation requires testing the control itself, not assuming it works.
- ✓
Manually test the vulnerability by sending a crafted exploit payload to the server
Why this is correct
The application-layer firewall may block the exploit, so scanner output alone is inconclusive. Sending a crafted payload manually tests whether the remote code execution actually succeeds through the filtering, confirming or disproving the reported vulnerability.
- ✗
Check the firewall logs to see if the scanner's traffic was blocked
Why it's wrong here
Firewall logs show whether scanner traffic was dropped, but blocking the scan probe does not prove the exploit path is unreachable. It is tempting because logs are readily available, yet the correct confirmation is attempting the exploit itself or a controlled proof-of-concept against the target.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Application Testing
Key term
Exploitation
Exploitation is the act of using a vulnerability or weakness in a system, network, or application to gain unauthorized access, cause damage, or extract data.
Key term
Vulnerability scanner
A vulnerability scanner is an automated tool that identifies security weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications by comparing their configurations and software versions against known vulnerability databases.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PT0-003 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 PT0-003 exam.