CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is a common exploit type that targets applications?

1. Buffer overflow

2. Port scanning

3. Packet sniffing

4. Denial of Service (DoS)

The correct answer is: Buffer overflow

A buffer overflow is a common exploit type that specifically targets applications by taking advantage of how they manage memory. When an application allocates a fixed amount of memory for a function but receives more data than it can handle, it can overwrite adjacent memory locations. This can lead to unpredictable behavior, crashes, or the execution of malicious code. By manipulating the input size, attackers can inject executable code into the application’s memory space, effectively using the program's own processes to execute harmful actions. This is a well-documented vulnerability found in many software applications, highlighting the importance of secure programming practices and robust input validation to mitigate such risks. Port scanning, packet sniffing, and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks represent different classes of vulnerabilities and are not specifically focused on exploiting application-level memory management flaws. Instead, they pertain to network security and traffic analysis, which, while critical areas of concern, do not target the application vulnerabilities in the same way that buffer overflow exploits do.