Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which type of attack involves direct manipulation of resources to alter behavior in a mobile context?

1. Data interception

2. Code tampering

3. Man-in-the-middle

4. Credential stuffing

The correct answer is: Code tampering

The correct answer is code tampering, which refers to the direct manipulation of software or data within a mobile application to alter its intended behavior. In a mobile context, this can involve modifying application binaries, changing source code, or adjusting configuration files to either introduce new functions or disable existing security features. Attackers often use code tampering to inject malicious code, bypass authentication checks, or access restricted functionality, leading to potential exposure of sensitive data or exploitation of the application’s capabilities. In the context of mobile security, recognizing code tampering is crucial because it directly affects the integrity of the app and the security of the end-user. Detecting such manipulations often requires checks like hash verification or utilizing code obfuscation techniques to make reverse engineering and modifications more difficult. Data interception, while also a significant concern in mobile security, refers specifically to capturing data as it travels between the mobile device and servers rather than manipulating the software itself. The man-in-the-middle attack involves an unauthorized party intercepting communication between two entities, but it does not involve altering the software's behavior directly. Credential stuffing attacks focus on using stolen username and password combinations to gain unauthorized access but do not involve manipulating resources in the same way that code tampering does.