Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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?
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
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
Distractor review
The attacker must be on the same subnet
While being on the same subnet simplifies network access, SMB relay can work across different subnets if routing allows the relaying of traffic.
C
Distractor review
The target must have a publicly available SMB share
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
Distractor review
The attacker must have admin privileges on the relay machine
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 trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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 capturing an authentication attempt and relaying it to another server. For the attack to succeed, SMB signing must be disabled or not enforced on the target server; otherwise, the relayed authentication will be rejected. Being on the same subnet is beneficial but not strictly necessary if routing is in place. Public SMB shares or admin privileges on the relay machine are not required, as the attack relies on captured credentials, not local privileges.
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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