CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-001 Cert Guide, 1st edition

Published by Pearson IT Certification (December 12, 2018) © 2019
  • Omar Santos
  • Ron Taylor

Title overview

CompTIA Pentest+ Cert Guide helps students improve both their conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics. The text presents the reader with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending Exam Preparation Tasks help you drill on key concepts you must know thoroughly. Review questions help students assess their knowledge, and a final preparation chapter offers tools and resources to help you craft your final study plan.


The companion website contains the powerful Pearson Test Prep practice test software, complete with 340 exam-realistic questions. The assessment engine offers a wealth of customization options and reporting features, laying out a complete assessment of your knowledge to help you focus your study where it is needed most.


Well regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, this study guide helps students master the concepts and techniques that will allow them to learn penetration testing and to succeed on the certification exam the first time.

  • Master CompTIA Pentest+ PT0-001 exam topics
  • Assess your knowledge with chapter-ending quizzes
  • Review key concepts with exam preparation tasks
  • Practice with realistic exam questions
  • Get practical guidance for next steps and more advanced certifications

Table of contents

    Introduction xxiii
Chapter 1 Introduction to Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing 3
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 3
    Understanding Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing 6
    Understanding the Current Threat Landscape 7
    Exploring Penetration Testing Methodologies 10
    Building Your Own Lab 16
    Requirements and Guidelines for Penetration Testing Labs 18
    What Tools Should You Use in Your Lab? 18
    What if You Break Something? 19
    Review All Key Topics 20
    Define Key Terms 20
    Q&A 21
Chapter 2 Planning and Scoping a Penetration Testing Assessment 25
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 25
    Explaining the Importance of the Planning and Preparation Phase 29
    Understanding the Legal Concepts of Penetration Testing 41
    Learning How to Scope a Penetration Testing Engagement Properly 44
    Learning the Key Aspects of Compliance-Based Assessments 50
    Review All Key Topics 58
    Define Key Terms 59
    Q&A 59
Chapter 3 Information Gathering and Vulnerability Identification 63
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 63
    Understanding Information Gathering and Reconnaissance 67
    Understanding the Art of Performing Vulnerability Scans 103
    Understanding How to Analyze Vulnerability Scan Results 112
    Review All Key Topics 116
    Define Key Terms 117
    Q&A 117
Chapter 4 Social Engineering Attacks 121
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 121
    Understanding Social Engineering Attacks 125
    Phishing 126
    Pharming 126
    Malvertising 127
    Spear Phishing 128
    SMS Phishing 134
    Voice Phishing 135
    Whaling 135
    Elicitation, Interrogation, and Impersonation (Pretexting) 135
    Social Engineering Motivation Techniques 137
    Shoulder Surfing 137
    USB Key Drop and Social Engineering 138
    Review All Key Topics 138
    Define Key Terms 139
    Q&A 139
Chapter 5 Exploiting Wired and Wireless Networks 143
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 143
    Exploiting Network-Based Vulnerabilities 148
    Exploiting Wireless and RF-Based Attacks and Vulnerabilities 185
    Review All Key Topics 200
    Define Key Terms 202
    Q&A 202
Chapter 6 Exploiting Application-Based Vulnerabilities 207
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 207
    Overview of Web Applications for Security Professionals 213
    How to Build Your Own Web Application Lab 224
    Understanding Injection-Based Vulnerabilities 227
    Exploiting Authentication-Based Vulnerabilities 242
    Exploiting Authorization-Based Vulnerabilities 250
    Understanding Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerabilities 252
    Understanding Cross-Site Request Forgery Attacks 260
    Understanding Clickjacking 261
    Exploiting Security Misconfigurations 262
    Exploiting File Inclusion Vulnerabilities 264
    Exploiting Insecure Code Practices 265
    Review All Key Topics 271
    Define Key Terms 272
    Q&A 273
Chapter 7 Exploiting Local Host and Physical Security Vulnerabilities 277
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 277
    Exploiting Local Host Vulnerabilities 281
    Understanding Physical Security Attacks 326
    Review All Key Topics 328
    Define Key Terms 329
    Q&A 329
Chapter 8 Performing Post-Exploitation Techniques 333
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 333
    Maintaining Persistence After Compromising a System 337
    Understanding How to Perform Lateral Movement 347
    Understanding How to Cover Your Tracks and Clean Up Systems After a Penetration Testing Engagement 356
    Review All Key Topics 357
    Define Key Terms 358
    Q&A 358
Chapter 9 Penetration Testing Tools 361
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 361
    Understanding the Different Use Cases of Penetration Testing Tools and How to Analyze Their Output 365
    Leveraging Bash, Python, Ruby, and PowerShell in Penetration Testing Engagements 460
    Review All Key Topics 462
    Define Key Terms 465
    Q&A 465
Chapter 10 Understanding How to Finalize a Penetration Test 471
    “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 471
    Explaining Post-Engagement Activities 474
    Surveying Report Writing Best Practices 475
    Understanding Report Handling and Communications Best Practices 499
    Review All Key Topics 501
    Define Key Terms 502
    Q&A 502
Chapter 11 Final Preparation 505
    Tools for Final Preparation 505
    Suggested Plan for Final Review/Study 509
    Summary 509
Appendix A Answers to the “Do I Know This Already?” Quizzes and

Online Elements:
Glossary of Key Terms
Appendix B Study Planner

TOC, 9780789760357

Author bios

Omar Santos is a principal engineer in the Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) within Cisco’s Security Research and Operations. He mentors and leads engineers and incident managers during the investigation and resolution of security vulnerabilities in all Cisco products, including cloud services. Omar has been working with information technology and cybersecurity since the mid-1990s. He has designed, implemented, and supported numerous secure networks for Fortune 100 and 500 companies and the U.S. government. Prior to his current role, he was a technical leader within the Worldwide Security Practice and the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC), where he taught, led, and mentored many engineers within both organizations.


Omar is an active member of the security community, where he leads several industrywide initiatives and standards bodies. His active role helps businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants that are dedicated to increasing the security of the critical infrastructure. Omar often delivers technical presentations at many cybersecurity conferences. He is the author of more than 20 books and video courses. You can follow Omar on any of the following:

Ron Taylor has been in the information security field for almost 20 years, 10 of which were spent in consulting. In 2008, he joined the Cisco Global Certification Team as an SME in information assurance. In 2012, he moved into a position with the Security Research & Operations group, where his focus was mostly on penetration testing of Cisco products and services. He was also involved in developing and presenting security training to internal development and test teams globally. In addition, he provided consulting support to many product teams as an SME on product security testing. He then spent some time as a consulting systems engineer specializing in Cisco’s security product line. In his current role, he works in the Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT). He has held a number of industry certifications, including GPEN, GWEB, GCIA, GCIH, GWAPT, RHCE, CCSP, CCNA, CISSP, and MCSE. Ron is also a Cisco Security Blackbelt, SANS mentor, cofounder and president of the Raleigh BSides Security Conference, and an active member of the Packet Hacking Village team at Defcon.


You can follow Ron on any of the following:

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