A penetration tester is performing network reconnaissance. The tester wants to gather information about the network without causing detection mechanisms to flag the reconnaissance activities. Which of the following techniques should the tester use?
Correct Answer:
A
To gather information about the network without causing detection mechanisms to flag the reconnaissance activities, the penetration tester should use sniffing.
✑ Sniffing:
✑ Advantages:
✑ Comparison with Other Techniques:
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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During a security assessment, a penetration tester gains access to an internal server and manipulates some data to hide its presence. Which of the following is the best way for the penetration tester to hide the activities performed?
Correct Answer:
A
During a penetration test, one of the critical steps for maintaining access and covering tracks is to clear evidence of the attack. Manipulating data to hide activities on an internal server involves ensuring that logs and traces of the attack are removed. Here's a detailed explanation of why clearing the Windows event logs is the best method for this scenario:
✑ Understanding Windows Event Logs: Windows event logs are a key forensic
artifact that records system, security, and application events. These logs can provide detailed information about user activities, system changes, and potential security incidents.
✑ Why Clear Windows Event Logs:
✑ Method to Clear Event Logs:
shell
Copy code wevtutil cl System wevtutil cl Security
wevtutil cl Application
✑ uk.co.certification.simulator.questionpool.PList@6126ce2a
✑ Alternative Options and Their Drawbacks:
✑ Case References:
In conclusion, clearing Windows event logs is a well-established practice for hiding activities during a penetration test. It is the most effective way to remove evidence of the attack from the system, thereby maintaining stealth and ensuring that the tester's actions remain undetected.
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During a security assessment, a penetration tester needs to exploit a vulnerability in a wireless network's authentication mechanism to gain unauthorized access to the network. Which of the following attacks would the tester most likely perform to gain access?
Correct Answer:
A
To exploit a vulnerability in a wireless network's authentication mechanism and gain unauthorized access, the penetration tester would most likely perform a KARMA attack.
✑ KARMA Attack:
✑ Purpose:
✑ Other Options:
Pentest References:
✑ Wireless Security Assessments: Understanding common attack techniques such as KARMA is crucial for identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in wireless networks.
✑ Rogue Access Points: Setting up rogue APs to capture credentials or perform man-in-the-middle attacks is a common tactic in wireless penetration testing.
By performing a KARMA attack, the penetration tester can exploit the wireless network's authentication mechanism and gain unauthorized access to the network.
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A penetration tester is evaluating a SCADA system. The tester receives local access to a workstation that is running a single application. While navigating through the application, the tester opens a terminal window and gains access to the underlying operating system. Which of the following attacks is the tester performing?
Correct Answer:
A
A kiosk escape involves breaking out of a restricted environment, such as a kiosk or a single application interface, to access the underlying operating system. Here??s why option A is correct:
✑ Kiosk Escape: This attack targets environments where user access is intentionally
limited, such as a kiosk or a dedicated application. The goal is to break out of these restrictions and gain access to the full operating system.
✑ Arbitrary Code Execution: This involves running unauthorized code on the system,
but the scenario described is more about escaping a restricted environment.
✑ Process Hollowing: This technique involves injecting code into a legitimate process, making it appear benign while executing malicious activities.
✑ Library Injection: This involves injecting malicious code into a running process by
loading a malicious library, which is not the focus in this scenario.
References from Pentest:
✑ Forge HTB: Demonstrates techniques to escape restricted environments and gain broader access to the system.
✑ Horizontall HTB: Shows methods to break out of limited access environments, aligning with the concept of kiosk escape.
Conclusion:
Option A, Kiosk escape, accurately describes the type of attack where a tester breaks out of a restricted environment to access the underlying operating system.
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A penetration tester needs to help create a threat model of a custom application. Which of the following is the most likely framework the tester will use?
Correct Answer:
D
The DREAD model is a risk assessment framework used to evaluate and prioritize the security risks of an application. It stands for Damage potential, Reproducibility, Exploitability, Affected users, and Discoverability.
✑ Understanding DREAD:
✑ Usage in Threat Modeling:
✑ Process:
✑ References from Pentesting Literature: Step-by-Step ExplanationReferences:
✑ Penetration Testing - A Hands-on Introduction to Hacking
✑ HTB Official Writeups
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