Question

Which type of memory vulnerability attack manipulates the "return address" of the memory location of a software program?

a. Shim overflow attack
b. Factor overflow attack
c. Integer overflow attack
d. Buffer overflow attack

Answer 1

A buffer overflow attack manipulates the return address of a software program's memory, potentially allowing attackers to control program execution. It occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it can hold, leading to security breaches. Developers employ various methods to mitigate these attacks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of memory vulnerability attack that manipulates the "return address" of the memory location of a software program is known as a buffer overflow attack. This attack occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold. As a result, the excess data can overflow into adjacent memory locations, potentially overwriting the return address and allowing an attacker to control the execution flow of the program. If the overwritten return address points to malicious code introduced by the attacker, it can lead to the execution of that code when the function returns.

Buffer overflow attacks are a serious security concern and have been the root cause of many significant computer security breaches. Developers mitigate these attacks by using secure coding practices, such as bounds checking and the use of safe functions that limit or prevent buffer overflows.