Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What type of vulnerabilities do sniffers typically exploit in network protocols?

1. Application layer vulnerabilities

2. Encryption vulnerabilities

3. Authentication vulnerabilities

4. Data transmission vulnerabilities

The correct answer is: Data transmission vulnerabilities

Sniffers, which are tools used to capture and analyze network traffic, typically exploit vulnerabilities related to data transmission. When data is transmitted over a network, it often travels in plaintext without adequate protections, making it susceptible to eavesdropping. This lack of encryption means that sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and personal data, can be easily intercepted and read by unauthorized parties. By focusing on the weaknesses in the way data is transmitted, such as unencrypted traffic or poorly secured protocols, sniffers can successfully harvest valuable information from the network. This exploitation occurs primarily at the network and transport layers of the OSI model, where unprotected data is moving across the medium. While application layer vulnerabilities, encryption vulnerabilities, and authentication vulnerabilities play roles in network security, they don't directly pertain to the primary function of sniffers. Sniffers capitalize on the weaknesses in data transmission mechanisms, which are often the first line of defense in protecting against unauthorized access to sensitive information within network communications.