After a security incident, a technician reveals that company data was stolen. During the investigation, it is discovered that a host disguised itself as a switch. Which of the following best describes the attack that occurred?
ARP spoofing describes the attack that occurred.
ARP spoofing is a technique in which an attacker sends falsified Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) messages over a local area network, associating their MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate host. This allows the attacker to intercept, modify, or even stop data intended for that legitimate host, effectively disguising themselves as a trusted device on the network.
VLAN hopping involves an attacker gaining access to a virtual LAN (VLAN) by exploiting vulnerabilities in the network configuration, typically through double tagging or misconfiguration of VLAN tagging protocols. However, this attack does not specifically involve masquerading as a switch or intercepting traffic in the manner described in the question.
An evil twin attack occurs when a rogue access point mimics a legitimate Wi-Fi hotspot, tricking users into connecting to it. While this attack involves deception, it primarily targets wireless networks and does not relate to the scenario of a host disguising itself as a switch within a wired network environment.
DNS poisoning, or DNS spoofing, involves corrupting the DNS cache to redirect users from legitimate sites to malicious ones. This attack affects domain name resolution but does not involve disguising as network hardware or intercepting local traffic, which is central to the described incident.
ARP spoofing is the most fitting description of the attack, as it involves an attacker posing as a legitimate network device, such as a switch, to intercept data packets. This method effectively allows the attacker to manipulate network traffic, which aligns perfectly with the scenario of company data being stolen through deceptive means.
The incident highlights the risks associated with ARP spoofing, where an attacker can impersonate a legitimate device on the network, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data. Unlike other attacks that focus on different aspects of network security, ARP spoofing directly involves the manipulation of the local network's address resolution, thereby enabling data theft while masquerading as an authentic switch. Understanding such attacks is crucial for implementing effective security measures in an organization's infrastructure.
Related Questions
View allWhich of the following is a type of NAC that uses a set of policies to...
Early in the morning, an administrator installs a new DHCP server. In...
A network administrator is establishing Layer 3 connectivity between L...
Users report latency with a SaaS application. Which of the following s...
A firewall receives traffic on port 80 and forwards it to an internal...
Related Quizzes
View allCompTIA A Plus Certification Exam
CompTIA A Plus Exam Questions
CompTIA A Plus 1001 Exams Practice
CompTIA A Plus Practice Exam
CompTIA CySA+ Cybersecurity Analyst Certification all in One Exam Guide
CompTIA Security Plus Exam Answers
Free CompTIA Security Plus Practice Test
CompTIA Security Plus Simulation Questions
CompTIA Security Plus 501 Practice Questions
CompTIA Security Plus Example Questions
- ✓ 500+ Practice Questions
- ✓ Detailed Explanations
- ✓ Progress Analytics
- ✓ Exam Simulations