Question 413 of 509

Attacks and Exploits →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that SMB signing must be disabled or not enforced for an SMB relay attack to succeed. This is because SMB signing cryptographically binds each authentication packet to the specific session, so when a relay attack intercepts and forwards that packet to a target server, the server will reject it if signing is required, as the packet’s signature won’t match the new session. Without signing enforced, the target server accepts the relayed authentication as legitimate, allowing the attacker to capture credentials. On the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 exam, this condition is a classic trap—many testers assume any misconfiguration will work, but the key is that the target server must not enforce signing, not just the source machine. A common memory tip is to think of SMB signing as a “session lock”—if the lock is on, the relayed key won’t fit; if it’s off, the door swings open.

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.

During a penetration test, a tester has access to a Windows domain-joined machine. The tester finds that the machine is running a service that uses named pipes for interprocess communication. The tester wants to perform a relay attack to capture authentication credentials. Which of the following conditions is necessary for an SMB relay attack to succeed?

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

A
SMB signing must be disabled or not enforced
SMB signing provides integrity and authentication checks; if it is disabled or not enforced, the relayed authentication succeeds because the server does not verify the source of the message.
B
The attacker must be on the same subnet
Why wrong: While being on the same subnet simplifies network access, SMB relay can work across different subnets if routing allows the relaying of traffic.
C
The target must have a publicly available SMB share
Why wrong: The presence of a public SMB share is not required; the relay attack works as long as the target is reachable and accepts SMB connections.
D
The attacker must have admin privileges on the relay machine
Why wrong: Admin privileges on the relay machine are unnecessary; the relay process only needs to forward authentication packets, which can be done with standard user privileges.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

SMB signing must be disabled or not enforced

SMB relay attacks work by intercepting an authentication attempt and forwarding it to a target server. For the relay to succeed, the target server must not require SMB signing, because signing ensures that the relayed authentication packet is cryptographically bound to the original session, preventing the attacker from replaying it. When SMB signing is disabled or not enforced, the relayed authentication is accepted as valid, allowing credential capture.

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.

✓
SMB signing must be disabled or not enforced
Why this is correct
SMB signing provides integrity and authentication checks; if it is disabled or not enforced, the relayed authentication succeeds because the server does not verify the source of the message.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The attacker must be on the same subnet
Why it's wrong here
While being on the same subnet simplifies network access, SMB relay can work across different subnets if routing allows the relaying of traffic.
✗
The target must have a publicly available SMB share
Why it's wrong here
The presence of a public SMB share is not required; the relay attack works as long as the target is reachable and accepts SMB connections.
✗
The attacker must have admin privileges on the relay machine
Why it's wrong here
Admin privileges on the relay machine are unnecessary; the relay process only needs to forward authentication packets, which can be done with standard user privileges.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA often tests the misconception that SMB relay requires the attacker to be on the same subnet or have admin privileges, but the critical technical condition is the absence of SMB signing enforcement on the target server.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

SMB signing is specified in MS-SMB2 and uses a session key derived from the user's credentials to sign each packet. When signing is enforced, the relayed packet's signature will not match the original session's key, causing the target to reject it. In real-world scenarios, many legacy systems or misconfigured Windows servers have SMB signing disabled by default, making them prime targets for relay attacks using tools like Impacket's ntlmrelayx.

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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PT0-002 question test?

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: SMB signing must be disabled or not enforced — SMB relay attacks work by intercepting an authentication attempt and forwarding it to a target server. For the relay to succeed, the target server must not require SMB signing, because signing ensures that the relayed authentication packet is cryptographically bound to the original session, preventing the attacker from replaying it. When SMB signing is disabled or not enforced, the relayed authentication is accepted as valid, allowing credential capture.

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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