- A
The scanner used unauthenticated scans, missing the actual vulnerabilities
Why wrong: Unauthenticated scans may miss some vulnerabilities, but that would cause false negatives, not false positives.
- B
The scanner configuration excluded necessary plugins for accurate testing
Why wrong: Excluding plugins would cause false negatives, not false positives.
- C
The target server is behind a load balancer that modifies responses
Why wrong: Load balancers may cause issues but are less likely to create false positives in scanner output.
- D
The scanner is reporting false positives due to inaccurate version detection
Correct. Version-based detection can be unreliable.
Question 252 of 1,000
PT0-002 Practice Question: Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning
This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of information gathering and vulnerability scanning. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
While performing vulnerability scanning with Nessus, a penetration tester notices that several high-severity vulnerabilities are reported for a web server, but manual verification shows the server is not vulnerable. What is the MOST likely cause of this discrepancy?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
The scanner is reporting false positives due to inaccurate version detection
Nessus performs version-based detection by analyzing server banners and HTTP response headers. If the web server's software version string is outdated or misconfigured, the scanner may flag vulnerabilities that do not actually exist in the patched or custom-compiled version. This is a classic false positive scenario where the scanner relies on version matching rather than actual exploit verification.
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.
- ✗
The scanner used unauthenticated scans, missing the actual vulnerabilities
Why it's wrong here
Unauthenticated scans may miss some vulnerabilities, but that would cause false negatives, not false positives.
- ✗
The scanner configuration excluded necessary plugins for accurate testing
Why it's wrong here
Excluding plugins would cause false negatives, not false positives.
- ✗
The target server is behind a load balancer that modifies responses
Why it's wrong here
Load balancers may cause issues but are less likely to create false positives in scanner output.
- ✓
The scanner is reporting false positives due to inaccurate version detection
Why this is correct
Correct. Version-based detection can be unreliable.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume high-severity findings must be real, or they confuse false positives with missed vulnerabilities due to authentication or plugin issues.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Load balancers may cause issues but are less likely to create false positives in scanner output.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Nessus uses a plugin-based architecture where each plugin checks for a specific vulnerability, often by comparing the server's reported version against a known vulnerable version range (e.g., Apache HTTP Server 2.4.49 is vulnerable to CVE-2021-41773). If the server's banner is spoofed or the version string is not updated after patching, the scanner will incorrectly flag the vulnerability. This is why penetration testers should always manually verify high-severity findings before including them in a report.
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.
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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Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PT0-002 question test?
Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — This question tests Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The scanner is reporting false positives due to inaccurate version detection — Nessus performs version-based detection by analyzing server banners and HTTP response headers. If the web server's software version string is outdated or misconfigured, the scanner may flag vulnerabilities that do not actually exist in the patched or custom-compiled version. This is a classic false positive scenario where the scanner relies on version matching rather than actual exploit verification.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PT0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PT0-002 exam.
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