Cisco Cyber Security Practice Exam

What is the primary goal of a buffer overflow attack?

1. To crash a system

2. To gain unauthorized control

3. To steal personal information

4. To disrupt network services

The correct answer is: To gain unauthorized control

A buffer overflow attack primarily aims to gain unauthorized control over a system. This type of attack occurs when an application writes more data to a buffer, or temporary data storage area, than it is designed to hold. As a result, the excess data can overflow into adjacent memory, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite executable code or control data within the program’s memory space. By exploiting a buffer overflow, an attacker can manipulate the execution flow of an application and introduce malicious code that is executed with the same permissions as the user running the application. This unauthorized control can facilitate a range of malicious activities, including installing malware, creating backdoors, or executing arbitrary commands, leading to full system compromise. While crashing a system, stealing personal information, or disrupting network services can also be objectives of various attacks, the core goal of a buffer overflow attack is to take control of the affected system. This control can then be leveraged to achieve additional malicious outcomes, but the initial and primary objective is focused on exploitation of the vulnerability itself.