What type of attack involves sending malicious packet fragments that when reassembled reveal a different payload?

What type of attack involves sending malicious packet fragments that when reassembled reveal a different payload?

• A. Denial of Service
• B. Session Fixation
• C. Overlapping Fragment attack
• D. Cross-Site Scripting

Answer: (C)

The type of attack described involves manipulating packet fragments to hide the actual payload until they are reassembled. This technique is known as an overlapping fragment attack, where the attacker crafts packet data in such a way that when the fragments are reassembled by the target system, they present a different or malicious payload than what was initially sent. This is effective because some network protocols may not properly handle fragmented packets, allowing the attacker to exploit weaknesses in the reassembly process. In this context, other attack types do not fit the characteristics described. For instance, a denial of service attack typically disrupts the availability of a service rather than manipulating packet content. Session fixation involves hijacking a user's session, usually through session identifiers, but does not involve packet fragmentation. Cross-site scripting is an attack vector that involves injecting malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users, which is fundamentally different from the packet-level manipulation in overlapping fragment attacks. Each of these attack types targets different vulnerabilities and employs distinct methodologies, making the overlapping fragment attack unique in its use of packet fragmentation.

The type of attack described involves manipulating packet fragments to hide the actual payload until they are reassembled. This technique is known as an overlapping fragment attack, where the attacker crafts packet data in such a way that when the fragments are reassembled by the target system, they present a different or malicious payload than what was initially sent. This is effective because some network protocols may not properly handle fragmented packets, allowing the attacker to exploit weaknesses in the reassembly process.

In this context, other attack types do not fit the characteristics described. For instance, a denial of service attack typically disrupts the availability of a service rather than manipulating packet content. Session fixation involves hijacking a user's session, usually through session identifiers, but does not involve packet fragmentation. Cross-site scripting is an attack vector that involves injecting malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users, which is fundamentally different from the packet-level manipulation in overlapping fragment attacks. Each of these attack types targets different vulnerabilities and employs distinct methodologies, making the overlapping fragment attack unique in its use of packet fragmentation.