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PCCET · Question #118

Which step is involved in getting malware to run on the inside of the targeted organization?

The correct answer is B. Exploitation and Installation. Getting malware to run inside a targeted organization requires both the Exploitation phase to gain initial access and the Installation phase to establish persistence.

Submitted by anna_se· Apr 18, 2026Cybersecurity Foundations

Question

Which step is involved in getting malware to run on the inside of the targeted organization?

Options

  • AWeaponization and Delivery
  • BExploitation and Installation
  • CCommand and Control
  • DActions on the Objective

How the community answered

(37 responses)
  • B
    92% (34)
  • C
    3% (1)
  • D
    5% (2)

Why each option

Getting malware to run inside a targeted organization requires both the Exploitation phase to gain initial access and the Installation phase to establish persistence.

AWeaponization and Delivery

Weaponization and Delivery are about creating and transmitting the malicious payload, not running it inside the target.

BExploitation and InstallationCorrect

Exploitation is the act of successfully leveraging a vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to a system, which is necessary to get malware inside. Installation then involves establishing a persistent presence (e.g., installing a backdoor, setting up services) so the malware can continue to run and maintain access within the targeted organization.

CCommand and Control

Command and Control (C2) is the communication channel between the attacker and the compromised system, used after the malware is already running.

DActions on the Objective

Actions on the Objective refer to the attacker's final goals (e.g., data exfiltration, destruction) performed after C2 and persistence are established.

Concept tested: Cyberattack lifecycle - Exploitation & Installation

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security/compass/incident-response-guides/prepare#cyber-kill-chain-and-mitre-attck

Topics

#Malware#Attack lifecycle#Exploitation#Installation

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