This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. 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.
Which legacy SMB protocol version should be disabled for security best practices on a modern Samba server?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
SMB2_02
Why wrong: SMB2_02 is part of SMB2, still secure.
SMB3
Why wrong: SMB3 is the latest secure protocol.
SMB2
Why wrong: SMB2 is a modern, secure protocol.
SMB1
SMB1 (CIFS) is insecure and should be disabled.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SMB1
SMB1 (also known as CIFS) is a legacy protocol that lacks modern security features such as pre-authentication integrity, encryption, and secure dialect negotiation. It is notoriously vulnerable to attacks like EternalBlue and SMB relay, and disabling it is a fundamental security best practice on any modern Samba server. Samba allows disabling SMB1 via the 'server min protocol = SMB2' or 'ntlm auth = no' directives in smb.conf.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
SMB2_02
Why it's wrong here
SMB2_02 is part of SMB2, still secure.
SMB3
Why it's wrong here
SMB3 is the latest secure protocol.
SMB2
Why it's wrong here
SMB2 is a modern, secure protocol.
SMB1
Why this is correct
SMB1 (CIFS) is insecure and should be disabled.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'legacy' with any older protocol version, such as SMB2_02 or SMB2, and fail to recognize that SMB1 is uniquely dangerous due to its lack of encryption and signing, while SMB2 and SMB3 are considered secure enough for modern use.
Detailed technical explanation
SMB1 uses a 32-bit header and lacks integrity checking for session setup, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and remote code execution exploits (e.g., MS17-010). In Samba, the 'server min protocol' parameter controls the lowest protocol version accepted; setting it to 'SMB2' effectively disables SMB1, but administrators must also ensure 'client min protocol' is set similarly to prevent outbound SMB1 connections. A real-world scenario is a Samba server acting as a file server for Windows clients: if SMB1 is left enabled, an attacker can exploit unpatched Windows 7 or legacy systems on the same network.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LPIC-2 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
File Sharing and Samba — This question tests File Sharing and Samba — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: SMB1 — SMB1 (also known as CIFS) is a legacy protocol that lacks modern security features such as pre-authentication integrity, encryption, and secure dialect negotiation. It is notoriously vulnerable to attacks like EternalBlue and SMB relay, and disabling it is a fundamental security best practice on any modern Samba server. Samba allows disabling SMB1 via the 'server min protocol = SMB2' or 'ntlm auth = no' directives in smb.conf.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LPIC-2 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 LPIC-2 exam.
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