mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped

A penetration tester wants to identify all subdomains for a target domain using only public records. Which technique is most effective for this purpose?

Question 1mediummultiple choice
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A penetration tester wants to identify all subdomains for a target domain using only public records. Which technique is most effective for this purpose?

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

Searching crt.sh (Certificate Transparency logs).

Certificate logs are public and contain SAN entries, making them an excellent source for passive subdomain enumeration. Tools like crt.sh or digicert can be queried.

B

Distractor review

DNS zone transfer.

DNS zone transfer is an active technique that requires the target DNS server to allow it, which is rare due to security hardening. It also sends traffic to the target.

C

Distractor review

Using Nmap to brute-force subdomains.

Nmap brute-force is an active method that sends numerous DNS queries to the target, generating traffic and potentially triggering alerts. It is not passive.

D

Distractor review

Querying the domain's MX records.

MX records provide mail server information, not a comprehensive list of subdomains. It may reveal a few but is not effective for broad enumeration.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic

NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
  • PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
  • Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
  • NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.

TExam Day Tips

  • Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
  • Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
  • Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.

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.

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PT0-002 question test?

Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Searching crt.sh (Certificate Transparency logs). — Certificate Transparency logs are a public source of SSL/TLS certificates, each of which often contains multiple subdomains in the Subject Alternative Name (SAN) field. By querying these logs (e.g., via crt.sh), a tester can gather a comprehensive list of subdomains without sending any traffic to the target. This is a passive reconnaissance technique.

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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