What is a buffer overflow attack?

Ethical Hacking Questions



80 Short 59 Medium 48 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What is a buffer overflow attack?

A buffer overflow attack is a type of security vulnerability where an attacker intentionally sends more data than a program or system can handle, causing the excess data to overflow into adjacent memory locations. This can lead to the overwriting of critical data, execution of malicious code, or crashing of the system. By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can gain unauthorized access, control, or manipulate the targeted system.