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During an internal penetration test, a tester discovers a Windows server running a custom service that is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow. The binary has Data Execution Prevention (DEP) enabled but Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) is disabled. Which exploitation technique would be MOST effective to achieve code execution?

Question 1hardmultiple choice
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During an internal penetration test, a tester discovers a Windows server running a custom service that is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow. The binary has Data Execution Prevention (DEP) enabled but Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) is disabled. Which exploitation technique would be MOST effective to achieve code execution?

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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

Distractor review

Injecting shellcode directly onto the stack and overwriting the return address to jump to it

DEP prevents execution on the stack; this technique would cause an access violation.

B

Distractor review

Using a return-to-libc attack to call system() with a command string

While ret2libc is a valid DEP bypass, it is limited to calling functions; full code execution may require more complex ROP chains.

C

Best answer

Constructing a ROP chain using gadgets from loaded DLLs to simulate shellcode execution

ROP allows arbitrary code execution by reusing existing code segments, effectively bypassing DEP when ASLR is disabled.

D

Distractor review

Enabling the execute bit on the stack via a memory corruption primitive

This is extremely difficult and requires a separate vulnerability to modify memory protection; it is not a standard technique.

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

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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: Constructing a ROP chain using gadgets from loaded DLLs to simulate shellcode execution — With DEP enabled, the stack and heap are non-executable, so the attacker cannot directly execute shellcode placed on the stack. However, with ASLR disabled, the addresses of system libraries are fixed. Return-oriented programming (ROP) allows the attacker to chain together small instruction sequences (gadgets) from loaded libraries to perform arbitrary operations without executing code on the stack. This bypasses DEP. Ret2libc is a simpler form of ROP but is generally less flexible; full ROP is more effective for complex code execution.

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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