The answer is a deauthentication attack and a disassociation attack, as both force a wireless client to re-authenticate and generate a new WPA2 4-way handshake for capture. These attacks work by sending forged management frames—either deauth or disassociation frames—that break the client’s connection to the access point, exploiting the lack of encryption in 802.11 management frames. On the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 exam, this concept tests your understanding of wireless attack vectors and handshake capture methodology, often appearing in multiple-choice questions where you must select two correct options from a list that may include rogue access points or evil twin attacks as traps. A common pitfall is confusing deauthentication with disassociation, but remember: deauth frames target a specific client from the AP, while disassociation frames break the session entirely—both achieve the same goal of forcing reconnection. Memory tip: “Deauth to disconnect, disassociate to dismiss—both get the handshake you wish.”
PT0-002 Attacks and Exploits Practice Question
This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of attacks and exploits. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A penetration tester is assessing a wireless network's security. The tester wants to capture WPA2 handshakes for offline password cracking. Which two attacks can be used to force a client to re-authenticate and capture the handshake? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Disassociation attack
A deauthentication attack (Option E) sends deauth frames from the access point to the client, forcing it to disconnect and reconnect, thereby generating a new WPA2 4-way handshake. A disassociation attack (Option D) similarly sends disassociation frames to break the client's connection, prompting re-authentication. Both attacks exploit management frame vulnerabilities in 802.11 to capture the handshake for offline cracking.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Rogue DHCP server attack
Why it's wrong here
Rogue DHCP assigns malicious IP settings, not related to handshake capture.
✗
ARP poisoning attack
Why it's wrong here
ARP poisoning is used for MITM on wired networks, not for wireless handshake capture.
✗
Evil twin attack
Why it's wrong here
Evil twin creates a rogue AP to capture credentials via phishing, not specifically to force re-authentication for handshake capture.
✓
Disassociation attack
Why this is correct
Disassociation frames also disconnect clients, prompting reconnection and handshake capture.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Deauthentication attack
Why this is correct
Deauthentication frames disconnect clients, causing them to reconnect and generate a handshake.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between deauthentication and disassociation attacks as both valid methods, while candidates may mistakenly think only one is correct or confuse them with ARP poisoning or evil twin attacks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Deauthentication and disassociation frames are unauthenticated management frames in 802.11, meaning an attacker can spoof the source MAC address of the AP to send these frames to a client. Tools like airodump-ng and aireplay-ng leverage this by sending continuous deauth packets; once the client reconnects, the 4-way handshake (EAPOL frames) is captured. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might combine this with a PMKID attack if the AP supports roaming, but the classic method remains deauth/disassociation to force handshake capture.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PT0-002 question in full detail.
Attacks and Exploits — This question tests Attacks and Exploits — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disassociation attack — A deauthentication attack (Option E) sends deauth frames from the access point to the client, forcing it to disconnect and reconnect, thereby generating a new WPA2 4-way handshake. A disassociation attack (Option D) similarly sends disassociation frames to break the client's connection, prompting re-authentication. Both attacks exploit management frame vulnerabilities in 802.11 to capture the handshake for offline cracking.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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