PT0-003 Exam Dumps - CompTIA PenTest+ Questions and Answers

1: Null session enumeration

Weak SMB file permissions

Fragmentation attack

2: nmap

-sV

-p 1-1023

192.168.2.2

3: #!/usr/bin/python

export $PORTS = 21,22

for $PORT in $PORTS:

try:

s.connect((ip, port))

print(“%s:%s – OPEN” % (ip, port))

except socket.timeout

print(“%:%s – TIMEOUT” % (ip, port))

except socket.error as e:

print(“%:%s – CLOSED” % (ip, port))

finally

s.close()

port_scan(sys.argv[1], ports)

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

By running the command findstr /SIM /C:"pass" *.txt *.cfg *.xml, the penetration tester is trying to enumerate secrets.

Command Analysis:

findstr: A command-line utility in Windows used to search for specific strings in files.

/SIM: Combination of options; /S searches for matching files in the current directory and all subdirectories, /I specifies a case-insensitive search, and /M prints only the filenames with matching content.

/C:"pass": Searches for the literal string "pass".

***.txt .cfg .xml: Specifies the file types to search within.

Objective:

The command is searching for the string "pass" within .txt, .cfg, and .xml files, which is indicative of searching for passwords or other sensitive information (secrets).

These file types commonly contain configuration details, credentials, and other sensitive data that might include passwords or secrets.

Other Options:

Configuration files: While .cfg and .xml files can be configuration files, the specific search for "pass" indicates looking for secrets like passwords.

Permissions: This command does not check or enumerate file permissions.

Virtual hosts: This command is not related to enumerating virtual hosts.

Pentest References:

Post-Exploitation: Enumerating sensitive information like passwords is a common post-exploitation activity after gaining initial access.

Credential Discovery: Searching for stored credentials within configuration files and documents to escalate privileges or move laterally within the network.

By running this command, the penetration tester aims to find stored passwords or other secrets that could help in further exploitation of the target system.

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The attacker is attempting to access restricted files by navigating directories beyond their intended scope.

Directory Traversal (Option C):

The request uses encoded "../" sequences (%2e%2e%2f = ../) to move up directories and access /etc/passwd.

This is a classic directory traversal attack aimed at accessing system files.

Given a short assessment timeline and the need to identify hard-coded credentials in a large codebase, using an automated tool designed for this specific purpose is the most effective approach. Here’s an explanation of each option:

Run TruffleHog against a local clone of the application (Answer: A):

TruffleHog is a specialized tool that scans for hard-coded secrets such as passwords, API keys, and other sensitive data within the code repositories.

Effectiveness: It quickly and automatically identifies potential credentials and other sensitive information across thousands of files, making it the most efficient choice under time constraints.

API as a Target:

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are common assets to test for vulnerabilities such as improper authentication, data leakage, or injection attacks.

Testing APIs often uncovers critical issues in modern applications.

Why Not Other Options?

B (HTTP): This is a protocol, not a specific asset.

C (IPA): Unrelated to penetration testing (likely a typo or irrelevant here).

D (ICMP): This is a protocol used for network diagnostics, not an application asset.

CompTIA Pentest+ References:

Domain 1.0 (Planning and Scoping)

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is an attack that involves injecting malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. Here’s why option C is correct:

XSS (Cross-Site Scripting): This attack involves injecting JavaScript into a web application, which is then executed by the user’s browser. The scenario describes injecting a JavaScript prompt, which is a typical XSS payload.

SQL Injection: This involves injecting SQL commands to manipulate the database and does not relate to JavaScript injection.

SSRF (Server-Side Request Forgery): This attack tricks the server into making requests to unintended locations, which is not related to client-side JavaScript execution.

Server-Side Template Injection: This involves injecting code into server-side templates, not JavaScript that executes in the user’s browser.

References from Pentest:

Horizontall HTB: Demonstrates identifying and exploiting XSS vulnerabilities in web applications​​.

Luke HTB: Highlights the process of testing for XSS by injecting scripts and observing their execution in the browser​​.

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Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Session fixation occurs when an application accepts a session identifier provided by the client (or set before authentication) and continues to use that same identifier after the user authenticates. In this scenario the server issues the same cookie value both before and after login, indicating the session ID is set pre-authentication and not rotated/renewed on successful authentication — a classic session fixation vulnerability. An attacker could force or coerce a victim to use a known session ID, then log in and hijack the authenticated session.

Why not the others:

A. JWT manipulation: Would involve JSON Web Tokens (signed tokens with predictable structure); the cookie shown has no JWT structure.

B. Cookie poisoning: Usually refers to unauthorized modification of cookie contents to change application behavior — not the primary issue here.

D. Collision attack: Cryptographic collision attacks are not relevant to identical session cookies before/after login.

CompTIA PT0-003 Mapping:

Domain 3.0 Attacks and Exploits — web application session management vulnerabilities (session fixation, improper session handling).

The Nmap command nmap -sv -sT -p- 192.168.1.0/24 is designed to discover services on a network. Here is a breakdown of the command and its purpose:

Command Breakdown:

nmap: The network scanning tool.

-sV: Enables service version detection. This option tells Nmap to determine the version of the services running on open ports.

-sT: Performs a TCP connect scan. This is a more reliable method of scanning as it completes the TCP handshake but can be easily detected by firewalls and intrusion detection systems.

-p-: Scans all 65535 ports. This ensures a comprehensive scan of all possible TCP ports.

192.168.1.0/24: Specifies the target network range (subnet) to be scanned.

Purpose of the Scan:

Service Discovery (Answer: C): The primary purpose of this scan is to discover which services are running on the network's hosts and determine their versions. This information is crucial for identifying potential vulnerabilities and understanding the network's exposure.

Kerberoasting is an attack that involves requesting service tickets for service accounts from a Kerberos service, extracting the service tickets, and attempting to crack them offline to retrieve the plaintext passwords.

Understanding Kerberoasting:

Purpose: To obtain service account passwords by cracking the encrypted service tickets (TGS tickets) offline.

Service Principal Names (SPNs): SPNs are used in Kerberos authentication to uniquely identify a service instance.

Command Breakdown:

setspn.exe -Q /: This command queries all SPNs in the domain.

Use Case: Identifying accounts with SPNs that can be targeted for Kerberoasting.

Kerberoasting Steps:

Identify SPNs: Use setspn.exe to list service accounts with SPNs.

Request TGS Tickets: Request TGS tickets for the identified SPNs.

Extract Tickets: Use tools like Mimikatz to extract the service tickets.

Crack Tickets: Use password cracking tools like Hashcat to crack the extracted tickets offline.

References from Pentesting Literature:

Kerberoasting is a well-documented attack method in penetration testing guides, specifically targeting service accounts in Active Directory environments.

HTB write-ups often detail the use of Kerberoasting for gaining credentials from service accounts.

Step-by-Step ExplanationReferences:

Penetration Testing - A Hands-on Introduction to Hacking

HTB Official Writeups

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