A penetration testing firm is contracted to perform an external test of a company's web applications. During the scoping meeting, the client mentions that they use a CDN and WAF provided by a third party. The client wants the test to accurately reflect the security of their backend servers behind these protections. What should the tester recommend?
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.
Distractor review
Test the CDN and WAF as part of the scope
Testing third-party infrastructure may violate the provider's terms of service and could lead to legal issues. The CDN and WAF are owned by a different entity.
Best answer
Obtain the backend server IPs from the client and test them directly
This allows the tester to assess the backend servers as intended, bypassing the CDN/WAF but with the client's authorization. It is the most accurate way to test the client's own infrastructure.
Distractor review
Include a plan to bypass the WAF in the rules of engagement
Deliberately bypassing a third-party WAF could be considered an attack on the WAF provider and may not be covered by the client's authorization. It could also disrupt the WAF service.
Distractor review
Only test the public-facing URLs as they are
This would only test the CDN edge, not the backend servers, so it would not meet the client's requirement to assess backend security.
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: Obtain the backend server IPs from the client and test them directly — Testing the backend origin servers directly, with the client's explicit permission, allows the tester to evaluate the security of the actual application infrastructure without touching the third-party CDN/WAF. This approach requires the client to provide the origin IP addresses and to ensure that testing is authorized.
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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