nerdexam
CompTIACompTIA

SY0-701 · Question #391

SY0-701 Question #391: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is A: Non-credentialed scan. A non-credentialed scan (A) is correct because it describes a vulnerability scan performed without supplying system credentials - exactly what "without a system account" means. The scanner probes from an external, unauthenticated perspective, simulating what an outside attacker w

Submitted by ricky.ec· Mar 6, 2026Security operations

Question

An analyst is performing a vulnerability scan against the web servers exposed to the internet without a system account. Which of the following is most likely being performed?

Options

  • ANon-credentialed scan
  • BPacket capture
  • CPrivilege escalation
  • DSystem enumeration
  • EPassive scan

Explanation

A non-credentialed scan (A) is correct because it describes a vulnerability scan performed without supplying system credentials - exactly what "without a system account" means. The scanner probes from an external, unauthenticated perspective, simulating what an outside attacker would see.

Why the others are wrong:

  • B. Packet capture - passive traffic interception, not active scanning for vulnerabilities
  • C. Privilege escalation - an attack technique to gain higher access after initial compromise, not a scan type
  • D. System enumeration - gathering info about a system (users, services, shares), which can be part of a scan but isn't the scan type being described
  • E. Passive scan - observes existing network traffic without sending probes; this question describes active probing of web servers

Memory tip: Think of "credentials = account." No account = non-credentialed. Credentialed scans go deeper (inside the OS); non-credentialed scans see only what an outsider sees. If the question mentions "internet-facing" + "no system account," that's your non-credentialed scan signal.

Topics

#Vulnerability scanning#Non-credentialed scan#Security assessment#Web security

Community Discussion

No community discussion yet for this question.

Full SY0-701 PracticeBrowse All SY0-701 Questions