The answer is to relay the captured hash to authenticate to another server. This is the most effective next step because when SMB signing is not enforced, an attacker can forward the NetNTLMv2 challenge-response from a captured SMB relay attack directly to a target server, authenticating as the victim without ever needing the plaintext password. On the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of relay versus cracking: many test-takers mistakenly think they must crack the hash offline, but the exam emphasizes that relay is faster and more direct when signing is disabled. A common trap is assuming NTLMv2 hashes always require brute-forcing, but the core concept here is that relay bypasses the need to crack entirely. Memory tip: "No signing, start relining" — if SMB signing is off, relay the hash, don't crack it.
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 an internal penetration test, a tester captures a NetNTLMv2 hash via an SMB relay attack. The target network does not enforce SMB signing. What is the most effective next step to gain access to a remote server?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Relay the captured hash to authenticate to another server.
Since SMB signing is not enforced, the tester can relay the captured NetNTLMv2 hash directly to another server without needing to crack it. This works because the relay attack forwards the authentication challenge-response to a target server, allowing the tester to authenticate as the victim user without knowing the plaintext password. This is the most effective step because it provides immediate access without the time and resource cost of 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.
✗
Crack the hash offline using a dictionary attack.
Why it's wrong here
Offline cracking is time-consuming and may not succeed. Relaying is faster and effective when SMB signing is not enforced.
✓
Relay the captured hash to authenticate to another server.
Why this is correct
Without SMB signing, the NetNTLMv2 hash can be relayed to obtain authenticated access to other systems on the network.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Perform a pass-the-hash attack using the captured hash.
Why it's wrong here
Pass-the-hash requires an NTLM hash, not a NetNTLMv2 challenge-response hash. The two are different formats.
✗
Use the hash to perform an LLMNR poisoning attack.
Why it's wrong here
LLMNR poisoning is used to capture hashes, not to exploit a captured one. The hash is already obtained.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse NetNTLMv2 with NTLM hashes, assuming pass-the-hash works with any hash type, when in fact pass-the-hash requires the raw NTLM hash (from LSASS or a dump) and not the challenge-response variant captured via relay.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In an SMB relay attack, the tester acts as a man-in-the-middle between the victim and the target server. The victim's NetNTLMv2 response is forwarded to the target server, which validates it against the domain controller, granting the tester access as the victim. This attack is particularly effective in networks without SMB signing because the target server cannot detect that the authentication is being relayed, and it works even if the password is unknown.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
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: Relay the captured hash to authenticate to another server. — Since SMB signing is not enforced, the tester can relay the captured NetNTLMv2 hash directly to another server without needing to crack it. This works because the relay attack forwards the authentication challenge-response to a target server, allowing the tester to authenticate as the victim user without knowing the plaintext password. This is the most effective step because it provides immediate access without the time and resource cost of 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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