CEH v13 312-50v13 Exam Questions and Answers PDF

The given command is used to establish a null session connection with the IPC$ share on a Windows machine. IPC$ (Inter-Process Communication) is a special hidden share used for Windows inter-process communication, and when connected with blank credentials, it allows anonymous access to certain system information — a common step in enumeration.

Command breakdown:

net use \target\ipc$ "" /u:""

→ Initiates a connection using a blank username and password (null session).

From CEH v13 Courseware:

Module 04: Enumeration

Topic: Null Sessions and SMB Enumeration

CEH v13 Study Guide states:

“A null session allows unauthorized users to connect to a Windows machine and extract information like usernames, shares, and policies. Null sessions exploit the default settings of the IPC$ share and are typically initiated using net use commands.”

Incorrect Options:

A/B: Accessing the etc/passwd or SAM directly is not the function of this command.

C: Samba uses SMB, but this is targeting a Windows system.

E: Cisco router enumeration involves SNMP, not Windows IPC$.

True Positive - IDS referring a behavior as an attack, in real life it is

True Negative - IDS referring a behavior not an attack and in real life it is not

False Positive - IDS referring a behavior as an attack, in real life it is not

False Negative - IDS referring a behavior not an attack, but in real life is an attack.

False Negative - is the most serious and dangerous state of all !!!!

According to the CEH attack methodology, once an attacker obtains initial access—whether through exploitation, misconfiguration, or credential compromise—the next critical phase is privilege escalation. Gaining system-level or administrative control is essential for maintaining persistence, accessing protected data, modifying system configurations, and pivoting further into the network. Privilege escalation exploits target kernel flaws, misconfigured services, improper permission settings, or vulnerable drivers. CEH emphasizes that performing a DoS attack disrupts the engagement and provides no strategic advantage. Similarly, CSRF targets web applications rather than operating systems, and brute-force password attempts are inefficient, noisy, and often ineffective once local access has already been established. By leveraging privilege escalation techniques, the tester converts limited user access into full system control, enabling comprehensive post-exploitation activities aligned with CEH system hacking procedures.

In CEH v13 Module 01: Introduction to Ethical Hacking, Gray Hat hackers are described as those who operate between ethical and unethical lines:

Gray Hat Characteristics:

Discover vulnerabilities without permission.

May explore or exploit them without malicious intent, but also without authorization.

May or may not disclose them after exploration.

Not fully black hat (malicious), nor white hat (authorized and ethical).

In this case, John explored sensitive employee data without authorization, even though he worked for the organization. That behavior places him in the gray hat category.

Option Clarification:

A. Cybercriminal: Generally linked to criminal activities for gain.

B. Black hat: Unauthorized access with malicious or financial intent.

C. White hat: Authorized ethical hackers.

D. Gray hat: Correct – Unauthorized, curious access without immediate harm.