Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What sequence occurs during an ARP spoofing attack?

1. The attacker intercepts encrypted messages

2. The attacker sends a valid ARP request

3. The attacker floods the network with broadcast pings

4. The attacker sends fake ARP messages

The correct answer is: The attacker sends fake ARP messages

During an ARP spoofing attack, the attacker sends fake ARP messages onto the local network. This technique is used to associate the attacker's MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate device, effectively misleading other devices on the network. When successful, this process allows the attacker to intercept traffic intended for the legitimate device, enabling them to eavesdrop, manipulate, or redirect communications. The essence of ARP spoofing lies in the manipulation of the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) framework. By distributing these forged ARP messages, the attacker takes advantage of the trust-based nature of ARP, which does not include mechanisms for authentication. As a result, devices that receive the fake ARP messages update their ARP tables, leading to a compromised network environment. In contrast to this method, intercepting encrypted messages would not typically be an initial step involved in ARP spoofing since the attack focuses on manipulating the ARP process rather than encrypting data. Sending a valid ARP request does not constitute an attack; rather, it is part of the normal function of ARP in resolving IP addresses to MAC addresses. Flooding the network with broadcast pings is an offensive maneuver typically used in different types of attacks, such as denial-of-service