1500 Questions | CompTIA PenTest+ Certification 2026
Course Description
Detailed Exam Domain Coverage
To earn your CompTIA PenTest+ certification, you must demonstrate a deep understanding of the entire penetration testing lifecycle. This course is meticulously designed to cover every objective within the official exam domains:
Domain 1: Planning and Reconnaissance (15%): Master the art of scoping engagements, legal requirements, and utilizing passive/active reconnaissance to map target environments.
Domain 2: Scanning and Vulnerability Identification (15%): Learn to use industry-standard tools for vulnerability analysis and prioritize findings based on potential impact.
Domain 3: Exploitation of Vulnerabilities (15%): Gain expertise in executing attacks against network, wireless, application, and RF-based vulnerabilities.
Domain 4: Post-Exploitation (15%): Understand how to maintain persistence, perform lateral movement, and determine the business impact of a breach.
Domain 5: Defense Bypass (10%): Identify and circumvent security controls like firewalls, IDS/IPS, and sandboxes using specialized techniques.
Domain 6: Post-Penetration Test (35%): Focus on the most weighted part of the exam—reporting, communication of findings, and recommending effective remediation strategies.
Course Description
I designed this practice test suite to provide a realistic simulation of the CompTIA PenTest+ exam environment. With a vast bank of original questions, I aim to help you move beyond rote memorization and develop the critical thinking skills required to identify weaknesses and suggest professional-grade mitigations.
Navigating the transition from security analyst to penetration tester is challenging. That is why I have included detailed breakdowns for every question. I don't just tell you which answer is right; I explain the logic behind the correct choice and why the distractors don't fit the specific scenario provided. This ensures you are prepared for the "best-answer" style questions CompTIA is known for.
Sample Practice Questions
Question 1: During a penetration test, I am tasked with performing a stealthy scan to identify live hosts on a /24 subnet without completing a three-way handshake. Which Nmap command should I use?
A. nmap -sT 192.168.1.0/24
B. nmap -sU 192.168.1.0/24
C. nmap -sS 192.168.1.0/24
D. nmap -sV 192.168.1.0/24
E. nmap -O 192.168.1.0/24
F. nmap -Pn 192.168.1.0/24
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
C (Correct): The -sS flag performs a SYN Stealth scan. It sends a SYN packet and waits for a SYN/ACK, but never sends the final ACK to complete the handshake, making it less likely to be logged.
A (Incorrect): -sT is a TCP Connect scan which completes the full three-way handshake and is much noisier.
B (Incorrect): -sU is used for scanning UDP ports, not for stealthy TCP host discovery.
D (Incorrect): -sV is used for service version detection, which occurs after host discovery.
E (Incorrect): -O is used for OS fingerprinting and does not determine the "stealthiness" of the initial scan.
F (Incorrect): -Pn skips the host discovery (ping) phase and treats all hosts as online; it doesn't define the scan type itself.
Question 2: While reviewing a web application, I find that I can input <script>alert('XSS')</script> into a comment field, and it executes in the browser of anyone viewing the page. What type of vulnerability is this?
A. Reflected XSS
B. DOM-based XSS
C. Stored XSS
D. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
E. SQL Injection
F. Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR)
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
C (Correct): Because the script is saved in the comment field (on the server/database) and served to other users later, it is a Stored (or Persistent) XSS attack.
A (Incorrect): Reflected XSS occurs when the script is "reflected" off a web server in a URL or search result, not saved permanently.
B (Incorrect): DOM-based XSS happens entirely on the client-side within the Document Object Model.
D (Incorrect): CSRF involves tricking a user into performing an unwanted action on a different site where they are authenticated.
E (Incorrect): SQL Injection targets the database logic, not the execution of scripts in a browser.
F (Incorrect): IDOR occurs when a user can access unauthorized resources by changing a parameter (like a UserID).
Question 3: I am in the post-exploitation phase and need to ensure my access survives a system reboot. Which of the following is a common technique for achieving persistence on a Windows target?
A. Running ipconfig /all
B. Modifying the Registry "Run" keys
C. Using whoami to check privileges
D. Clearing the Windows Event Logs
E. Performing a pass-the-hash attack
F. Mapping a network drive
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
B (Correct): Adding a malicious executable to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry key ensures the program starts automatically whenever a user logs in.
A (Incorrect): ipconfig is a reconnaissance/info-gathering command, not a persistence mechanism.
C (Incorrect): whoami is used for situational awareness regarding current permissions.
D (Incorrect): Clearing logs is part of "covering tracks," but it does not help maintain access after a reboot.
E (Incorrect): Pass-the-hash is a lateral movement technique, not a persistence method.
F (Incorrect): Mapping a drive is for data exfiltration or access, but doesn't guarantee the shell returns after a restart.
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Each question has a detailed explanation.
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