CompTIA Updated PT0-003 Exam Questions and Answers by zachariah

IAM (Identity and Access Management) credentials are used to control and manage access to cloud services and resources. When a penetration tester obtains IAM credentials, especially those with administrative privileges, they can perform high-level operations such as provisioning services, modifying configurations, or accessing sensitive data across the cloud environment.

SSH keys would only grant access to a specific instance, not cloud-wide services.

Cloud storage credentials are limited to storage access, not administrative capabilities.

Temporary security credentials (STS) provide limited-time access and are not typically used for broad administrative tasks.

The Wayback Machine is an online tool that archives web pages over time, allowing users to see how a website looked at various points in its history. This can be extremely useful for penetration testers looking to explore potential security weaknesses by searching for subdomains that might have existed in the past.

Accessing the Wayback Machine:

Go to the Wayback Machine website: archive.org/web.

Enter the URL of the target website you want to explore.

Navigating Archived Pages:

The Wayback Machine provides a timeline and calendar interface to browse through different snapshots taken over time.

Select a snapshot to view the archived version of the site. Look for links, subdomains, and resources that may no longer be available in the current version of the website.

Identifying Subdomains:

Examine the archived pages for references to subdomains, which might be visible in links, scripts, or embedded content.

Use the information gathered to identify potential entry points or older versions of web applications that might still be exploitable.

Tool Integration:

Tools like Burp Suite or SpiderFoot can integrate with the Wayback Machine to automate the discovery process of archived subdomains and resources.

Real-World Example:

During a penetration test, a tester might find references to oldadmin.targetsite.com in an archived page from several years ago. This subdomain might no longer be listed in DNS but could still be accessible, leading to potential security vulnerabilities.

References from Pentesting Literature:

In various penetration testing guides and HTB write-ups, using the Wayback Machine is a common technique for passive reconnaissance, providing historical context and revealing past configurations that might still be exploitable.

Step-by-Step ExplanationReferences:

HTB Official Writeups

=================

The GetUserSPNs.py script (part of Impacket) is used in Kerberoasting attacks. It requests Service Principal Names (SPNs) for users with associated services, retrieves TGS tickets, and then allows offline cracking of those tickets.

From the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 Study Guide (Chapter 8 – Post-Exploitation):

“Kerberoasting involves requesting service tickets for SPNs, which can then be cracked offline to retrieve service account passwords.”

From the Nmap results:

Service Analysis:

SSH (22): Secure Shell is a remote access protocol that is typically well-secured with encryption and authentication mechanisms. It’s not the easiest to exploit without valid credentials or known vulnerabilities.

SMTP (25): The port is filtered, which indicates that it might be blocked by a firewall, making it less accessible as an attack vector.

RPCBind (111): RPC services can sometimes expose vulnerabilities, but they are less common in modern systems.

NFS (2049): Network File System is a file-sharing service. Misconfigured NFS servers often expose sensitive files or directories that can be accessed without proper authentication.

Best Target:NFS (port 2049) is the most attractive target. Attackers can exploit insecure exports, gain unauthorized access to shared directories, or elevate privileges if the server allows root access over NFS.

CompTIA Pentest+ References:

Domain 2.0 (Information Gathering and Vulnerability Identification)

Domain 3.0 (Attacks and Exploits)