A penetration tester needs to launch an Nmap scan to find the state of the port for both TCP and UDP services. Which of the following commands should the tester use?
Correct Answer:
C
✑ Comparison with Other Options:
=================
A penetration tester would like to leverage a CSRF vulnerability to gather sensitive details from an application's end users. Which of the following tools should the tester use for this task?
Correct Answer:
A
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities can be leveraged to trick authenticated users into performing unwanted actions on a web application. The right tool for this task would help in exploiting web-based vulnerabilities, particularly those related to web browsers and interactions.
✑ Browser Exploitation Framework (BeEF) (Answer: A):
✑ Maltego (Option B):
✑ Metasploit (Option C):
✑ theHarvester (Option D):
Conclusion: The Browser Exploitation Framework (BeEF) is the most suitable tool for leveraging a CSRF vulnerability to gather sensitive details from an application's end users. It is specifically designed for browser-based exploitation, making it the best choice for this task.
SIMULATION
A penetration tester performs several Nmap scans against the web application for a client. INSTRUCTIONS
Click on the WAF and servers to review the results of the Nmap scans. Then click on each tab to select the appropriate vulnerability and remediation options.
If at any time you would like to bring back the initial state of the simulation, please click the Reset All button.
Solution:
Most likely vulnerability: Perform a SSRF attack against App01.example.com from CDN.example.com.
The scenario suggests that the CDN network (with a WAF) can be used to perform a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attack. Since the penetration tester has the pentester workstation interacting through the CDN/WAF and the production network is behind it, the most plausible attack vector is to exploit SSRF to interact with the internal services like App01.example.com.
Two best remediation options:
✑ Restrict direct communications to App01.example.com to only approved components.
✑ Require an additional authentication header value between CDN.example.com and App01.example.com.
✑ Restrict direct communications to App01.example.com to only approved components: This limits the exposure of the application server by ensuring that only specified, trusted entities can communicate with it.
✑ Require an additional authentication header value between CDN.example.com
and App01.example.com: Adding an authentication layer between the CDN and the app server helps ensure that requests are legitimate and originate from trusted sources, mitigating SSRF and other indirect attack vectors.
Nmap Scan Observations:
✑ CDN/WAF shows open ports for HTTP and HTTPS but filtered for MySQL, indicating it acts as a filtering layer.
✑ App Server has open ports for HTTP, HTTPS, and filtered for MySQL.
✑ DB Server has all ports filtered, typical for a database server that should not be directly accessible.
These findings align with the SSRF vulnerability and the appropriate remediation steps to enhance the security of internal communications.
Does this meet the goal?
Correct Answer:
A
During an engagement, a penetration tester wants to enumerate users from Linux systems by using finger and rwho commands. However, the tester realizes these commands alone will not achieve the desired result. Which of the following is the best tool to use for this task?
Correct Answer:
C
The smbclient tool is used to access SMB/CIFS resources on a network. It allows penetration testers to connect to shared resources and enumerate users on a network, particularly in Windows environments. While finger and rwho are more common on Unix/Linux systems, smbclient provides better functionality for enumerating users across a network.
✑ Understanding smbclient:
✑ User Enumeration:
Step-by-Step Explanationsmbclient -L //target_ip -U username
✑ uk.co.certification.simulator.questionpool.PList@10ddf175 smbclient -L //192.168.50.2 -U anonymous
✑ Advantages:
✑ References from Pentesting Literature: References:
✑ Penetration Testing - A Hands-on Introduction to Hacking
✑ HTB Official Writeups
=================
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.
=================
