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A penetration tester is writing a Bash script to enumerate users from the /etc/passwd file on a compromised Linux system. Which command will efficiently print only the usernames?

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A penetration tester is writing a Bash script to enumerate users from the /etc/passwd file on a compromised Linux system. Which command will efficiently print only the usernames?

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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

cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd

Cut splits lines at ':' and outputs field 1 (the username). This is simple and efficient.

B

Distractor review

awk -F: '{print $1}' /etc/passwd

While awk also works, cut is more lightweight for this specific task; however, the question asks for the 'most efficient' and cut is the standard choice.

C

Distractor review

grep -o '^[^:]*' /etc/passwd

This uses a regular expression to match the beginning of the line up to the first colon, but grep is typically slower for field extraction.

D

Distractor review

sed 's/:.*//' /etc/passwd

Sed removes everything after the first colon, but it's less intuitive and slower than cut for this purpose.

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

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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: cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd — The /etc/passwd file uses a colon (:) as a field delimiter, with the username as the first field. The 'cut' command with the -d and -f options is a standard, efficient way to extract specific fields.

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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