CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

Which of the following is a method used to exploit a buffer overflow vulnerability?

1. Code injection

2. SQL queries

3. Shell scripting

4. Data validation

The correct answer is: Code injection

A method used to exploit a buffer overflow vulnerability is code injection. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when a program attempts to write more data to a fixed-length buffer than it can hold, causing adjacent memory space to be overwritten. This can lead to unpredictable behavior, including the execution of arbitrary code. Through code injection, an attacker can manipulate the program's execution flow by inserting malicious code directly into the buffer. When the program resumes execution, it may inadvertently run the attacker's code, leading to unauthorized actions taken on the system, such as privilege escalation or remote command execution. This technique takes advantage of programming weaknesses and poor memory management practices, making it a critical vector for cybersecurity threats. The other options, such as SQL queries, shell scripting, and data validation, do not directly pertain to exploiting buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the same manner as code injection does. SQL queries are primarily related to database interactions, shell scripting involves scripting for automation, and data validation is a defensive programming practice meant to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in the first place.