What type of attack could occur if a DNS server is subject to cache poisoning?

Enhance your knowledge and skills for the CIW Web Security Associate Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Cache poisoning refers to the manipulation of a DNS server's cache to introduce incorrect domain name resolution entries. When a DNS server's cache is poisoned, it can lead to unauthorized or malicious redirection of user requests. In this context, a redirected traffic attack occurs as the user is directed to a fraudulent website instead of the legitimate site they intended to visit.

This can have serious implications, as users may unknowingly provide personal information to attackers who have set up a fake site that appears genuine. The nature of cache poisoning allows this attack to persist until the cache entries are expired or updated, causing potentially long-term vulnerabilities for users relying on that compromised DNS server.

In contrast, a man-in-the-middle attack typically involves intercepting communications between two parties rather than altering DNS resolution processes. A denial-of-service attack aims to make a service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic, which is not specifically related to DNS cache manipulation. Data exfiltration refers to the unauthorized transfer of data from a system, which is not a direct effect of DNS cache poisoning itself. Hence, the essence of the correct answer lies in the fact that cache poisoning enables malicious redirections, making redirected traffic attacks a primary concern.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy