Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A penetration tester is performing internal reconnaissance from a compromised host and wants to map the local network without sending any packets. Which technique is most suitable?
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
Best answer
Use tcpdump to passively capture and analyze broadcast traffic.
Passive capture of broadcast frames (ARP, DHCP, etc.) reveals live hosts and their IP addresses without sending a single packet.
B
Distractor review
Send ARP requests to all possible IP addresses using a ping sweep.
ARP requests are active and generate traffic that can be detected by network monitors or intrusion detection systems.
C
Distractor review
Query the local DNS server for all host records in the domain.
This is an active query that may be logged, and the DNS server may not reveal all hosts, especially workstations not registered in DNS.
D
Distractor review
Use traceroute to discover network paths.
Traceroute sends packets with varying TTL values, which is active and detectable.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
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?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use tcpdump to passively capture and analyze broadcast traffic. — Passive sniffing of broadcast traffic (e.g., ARP, DHCP, NetBIOS) allows the tester to observe network communications without generating any alerts. This reveals IP-MAC mappings and active hosts. Other methods like ARP ping or traceroute are active and generate traffic. Analyzing DNS logs requires access to the DNS server, which the tester may not have.
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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