(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

In the scenario where an attacker monitors traffic between two machines, what type of attack is being described?

1. Side channel

2. DDOS

3. On-path

4. Physical

The correct answer is: On-path

In the context of network security, when an attacker monitors traffic between two machines, it is referred to as an on-path attack. This type of attack occurs when the attacker positions themselves on the communication pathway between the two endpoints. By doing so, they can intercept, manipulate, or analyze the data being transmitted without the knowledge of either party involved in the communication. This might involve techniques such as packet sniffing or man-in-the-middle attacks, where the attacker can read or alter messages before sending them to their intended recipient. Understanding this concept is essential, as on-path attacks can lead to significant breaches in confidentiality and integrity of data, posing serious risks to the systems involved. In contrast, other types of attacks, such as denial-of-service attacks, focus on overwhelming a service, and physical attacks refer to direct physical breaches or thefts related to devices. Side channel attacks exploit weaknesses in the implementation of a system rather than monitoring traffic on the network. Each of these attacks operates under different principles, making it important to clearly identify on-path attacks in scenarios involving traffic monitoring.