- A
Black box
Black box testing gives no prior knowledge.
- B
White box
Why wrong: White box provides full knowledge of the environment.
- C
Grey box
Why wrong: Grey box provides partial knowledge.
- D
Internal test
Why wrong: Internal test is from inside the network, but doesn't specify knowledge level.
Question 477 of 1,000
CISSP Security Assessment and Testing Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security assessment and testing. 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.
A company hires a third party to perform an assessment where the testers are given no prior knowledge of the internal network. This type of penetration test is known as:
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
✓
Black box
A black box penetration test simulates an external attacker with no prior knowledge of the target environment. The testers are given no credentials, network diagrams, or internal details, forcing them to perform reconnaissance and exploitation from an outsider's perspective. This aligns directly with the scenario where the third party has 'no prior knowledge of the internal network.'
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.
- ✓
Black box
Why this is correct
Black box testing gives no prior knowledge.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
White box
Why it's wrong here
White box provides full knowledge of the environment.
- ✗
Grey box
Why it's wrong here
Grey box provides partial knowledge.
- ✗
Internal test
Why it's wrong here
Internal test is from inside the network, but doesn't specify knowledge level.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing the test's knowledge level (black, white, grey) with the test's origin (internal vs. external), leading candidates to incorrectly select 'Internal test' because they associate 'no prior knowledge' with an external perspective, but the question explicitly asks for the type based on knowledge, not location.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a black box test, testers rely on OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools like Shodan, theHarvester, and DNS enumeration (e.g., nslookup, dig) to discover external-facing assets. They must then use techniques such as port scanning (Nmap), service fingerprinting, and vulnerability scanning (Nessus, OpenVAS) without any internal context. A real-world scenario is a red team engagement where the goal is to breach the perimeter via phishing or exploiting public-facing services like VPNs or web applications, mimicking a real attacker with zero trust.
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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Security Assessment and Testing — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Security Assessment and Testing — This question tests Security Assessment and Testing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Black box — A black box penetration test simulates an external attacker with no prior knowledge of the target environment. The testers are given no credentials, network diagrams, or internal details, forcing them to perform reconnaissance and exploitation from an outsider's perspective. This aligns directly with the scenario where the third party has 'no prior knowledge of the internal network.'
What should I do if I get this CISSP 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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CISSP exam.
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