CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003) — Question 116

A penetration tester runs a network scan but has some issues accurately enumerating the vulnerabilities due to the following error:

OS identification failed -

Which of the following is most likely causing this error?

Answer options

• A. The scan did not reach the target because of a firewall block rule.
• B. The scanner database is out of date.
• C. The scan is reporting a false positive.
• D. The scan cannot gather one or more fingerprints from the target.

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is D because the error indicates that the scanner is unable to obtain the necessary fingerprints from the target system, which is essential for OS identification. Option A is incorrect as it suggests a network access issue rather than a fingerprinting problem, option B is not relevant since an outdated database wouldn't directly cause the OS identification to fail, and option C is wrong because a false positive does not lead to the inability to identify the OS.