CPENT Active Directory Attacks Practice Question
A penetration tester has compromised an account that possesses the 'GenericAll' permission over a Group Policy Object (GPO) linked to the domain. How can this permission be leveraged to achieve remote code execution across systems affected by the GPO?
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
✓
Modify the GPO's SYSVOL folder contents to inject a malicious Immediate Task or startup script
Having GenericAll or WriteProperty rights over a GPO allows an attacker to modify the GPO settings, such as adding a Scheduled Task or an Immediate Task via 'Preferences -> Control Panel Settings -> Scheduled Tasks', which will execute commands on targets processing that GPO.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Modify the GPO's SYSVOL folder contents to inject a malicious Immediate Task or startup script
Why this is correct
By editing the GPO files in SYSVOL and updating the Group Policy Template, an attacker can force target machines to execute arbitrary payloads when the policy is refreshed.
- ✗
Extract domain administrator password hashes directly from the GPO ACL metadata
Why it's wrong here
ACL metadata does not store password hashes; it only defines security descriptors.
- ✓
Perform a DCSync attack against the GPO container in the configuration partition
Why this is correct
Incorrect because DCSync requires replication privileges on the domain root naming context, not GPO-specific rights.
- ✗
Request a TGT ticket with custom PAC extensions via Kerberos delegation
Why it's wrong here
Kerberos delegation is a property of computer or user objects, not GPOs.
About these practice questions
This CPENT question is part of Courseiva's 274-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official EC-Council exam blueprint
This CPENT practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CPENT exam.