Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which attack is characterized by sending an oversized ping packet to cause a buffer overflow on a Bluetooth device?

1. Bluesnarfing

2. Bluejacking

3. Bluesmacking

4. Doctor attack

The correct answer is: Bluesmacking

The attack characterized by sending an oversized ping packet to cause a buffer overflow on a Bluetooth device is known as Bluesmacking. This technique exploits the Bluetooth protocol by overwhelming a device's buffer with excessively large ping packets, leading to a system crash or unexpected behavior. Understanding this attack in the context of Bluetooth communications is critical, as it highlights vulnerabilities in how devices manage incoming data, particularly under conditions that exceed their processing capabilities. This type of attack can lead to service denial or unauthorized access, which are significant security concerns in any wireless environment. The other options represent different types of Bluetooth-related attacks. Bluesnarfing involves unauthorized access to information on a Bluetooth device, while Bluejacking refers to sending unsolicited messages to Bluetooth-enabled devices. The Doctor attack, though mentioned, is not a widely recognized term associated with the described method of causing buffer overflows in the Bluetooth environment. Recognizing the unique characteristics of Bluesmacking helps reinforce understanding of Bluetooth security vulnerabilities and their potential exploitation.