What is a known ciphertext attack?

What is a known ciphertext attack?

A known ciphertext attack is a type of cryptographic attack where the attacker has access to the ciphertext (encrypted message) and attempts to deduce the corresponding plaintext (original message) or the encryption key used. This attack is based on the assumption that the attacker has knowledge of specific plaintext-ciphertext pairs or has the ability to generate chosen ciphertexts and observe the corresponding plaintexts. By analyzing these known ciphertexts and their corresponding plaintexts, the attacker aims to gain insights into the encryption algorithm or key, potentially leading to the ability to decrypt other ciphertexts.