CompTIA Updated PT0-003 Exam Questions and Answers by vladimir

Since direct interaction with the ICS application is restricted, the best way to analyze network traffic without modifying the system is to use port mirroring on a firewall or network switch.

Option A (Port mirroring) ✅:

Correct. Port mirroring (SPAN) copies network traffic without modifying the host system.

Allows passive analysis of whether encryption is used.

Option B (Packet capture on the server) ❌:

Requires modifying the host, which is prohibited by the client.

Option C (Reconfiguring the app to use a proxy) ❌:

Modifies application settings, which violates the client’s terms.

Option D (Disabling certificate pinning) ❌:

Requires changes to security settings, which is not allowed in this scenario.

???? Reference: CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 Official Guide – Passive Traffic Analysis for ICS Systems

To gather information about the network without causing detection mechanisms to flag the reconnaissance activities, the penetration tester should use sniffing.

Sniffing:

Definition: Sniffing involves capturing and analyzing network traffic passing through the network. It is a passive reconnaissance technique that does not generate detectable traffic on the network.

Tools: Tools like Wireshark and tcpdump are commonly used for sniffing. They capture packets and provide insights into network communications, protocols in use, devices, and potential vulnerabilities.

Advantages:

Stealthy: Since sniffing is passive, it does not generate additional traffic that could be detected by intrusion detection systems (IDS) or other monitoring tools.

Information Gathered: Sniffing can reveal IP addresses, MAC addresses, open ports, running services, and potentially sensitive information transmitted in plaintext.

Comparison with Other Techniques:

Banner Grabbing: Active technique that sends requests to a target service to gather information from banners, which can be detected.

TCP/UDP Scanning: Active technique that sends packets to probe open ports and services, easily detected by network monitoring tools.

Ping Sweeps: Active technique that sends ICMP echo requests to determine live hosts, also detectable by network monitoring.

Pentest References:

Reconnaissance Phase: Using passive techniques like sniffing during the initial reconnaissance phase helps gather information without alerting the target.

Network Analysis: Understanding the network topology and identifying key assets and vulnerabilities without generating traffic that could trigger alarms.

By using sniffing, the penetration tester can gather detailed information about the network in a stealthy manner, minimizing the risk of detection.

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The command creates a scheduled task that executes a reverse shell payload at logon, ensuring persistence.

Option A (Enumerate tasks) ❌: This command creates a task, not lists tasks (schtasks /query is used for enumeration).

Option B (Establish persistence) ✅: Correct.

The attacker ensures a reverse shell opens every time a user logs in.

Option C (Deactivate Windows Update) ❌: The task is named "Windows Update" but does not disable updates.

Option D (Create a Windows Update binary) ❌: This executes a reverse shell, not a system update.

???? Reference: CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 Official Guide – Windows Persistence Techniques

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a client-side attack where an attacker injects malicious scripts into a web page viewed by other users. When executed in a browser, it can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized transactions, or execute malicious actions on behalf of the victim.

Option D (Cross-site scripting) is correct because XSS can manipulate client-side input validation to execute unauthorized transactions.

Option A (Privilege escalation) is incorrect because it involves gaining higher privileges on a system, not attacking input validation in a web application.

Option B (DOM injection) is incorrect because DOM-based attacks manipulate browser-side JavaScript but are not necessarily used for unauthorized transactions.

Option C (Session hijacking) is incorrect because session hijacking requires capturing a valid user session, whereas XSS can steal session tokens for this purpose.