A security analyst is investigating a possible buffer overflow attack. The following output was found on a user's workstation: graphic.linux_randomization.prg
Which of the following technologies would mitigate the manipulation of memory segments?
A security analyst is investigating a possible buffer overflow attack. The following output was found on a user's workstation: graphic.linux_randomization.prg
Which of the following technologies would mitigate the manipulation of memory segments?
ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) is a security technique that randomizes the memory addresses used by system and application processes. By randomizing the locations where program code and data are loaded, ASLR makes it difficult for an attacker to predict the memory addresses, thus mitigating the risk of a buffer overflow attack. This is particularly relevant when addressing the manipulation of memory segments in such attacks.
the keyword is {the manipulation of memory segments} ASLR prevents that by randomizing memory location. NX bit, ASLR, and DEP all help with buffer overflow but only ASLR handles randomization.
No, B is correct. https://eklitzke.org/memory-protection-and-aslr
ASLR is a security technique that randomizes the memory locations where programs, libraries, and data are loaded, making it more difficult for an attacker to predict where code or data will be located in memory. This can make it more difficult for an attacker to successfully execute a buffer overflow attack, as the attacker would need to guess the correct memory location to target. This is way more specific then the other alternatives. The NX bit (No eXecute bit) is a security feature that prevents code from being executed in certain memory locations, such as those that are marked as data rather than code. This can help prevent buffer overflow attacks by preventing the execution of malicious code that is injected into a buffer. Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature that prevents code from being executed in certain memory locations, such as the stack or heap. This can help prevent buffer overflow attacks by preventing the execution of malicious code that is injected into a buffer.
A is correct NX
Answer is A
Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) changes the order of the address space so that way code injected will not be able to run. It is hard to run a command that is supposed to say Example "Start-Process powershell -WindowStyle Hidden, Psexec \\172.16.0.121 -u chris -p password /c c:/backdoor.bat" Turns into "Rsatt-Pscreos pheolswerl -Ilynodwtwes Dindhe, Espexc \\172.16.0.121 -u sirhc -p sdawposr /c c:/arcdokbo.tab" Thus no exploit/payload :) Source: Verifying each answer against Chat GPT, my experience, other test banks, a written book, and weighing in the discussion from all users to create a 100% accurate guide for myself before I take the exam. (It isn't easy because of the time needed, but it is doing my diligence)
ASLR randomizes the memory addresses used by system and application processes. By randomizing the locations where program code and data are loaded, ASLR makes it difficult for an attacker to predict the location of specific functions or buffers, thus mitigating the risk of a buffer overflow attack exploiting predictable memory addresses
C. DEP (Data Execution Prevention) DEP (Data Execution Prevention) specifically focuses on preventing code execution from certain memory regions designated as data storage. By marking memory pages as non-executable, DEP effectively prevents attackers from executing injected malicious code in memory segments vulnerable to buffer overflow attacks. DEP directly addresses the manipulation of memory segments by ensuring that code cannot be executed from areas intended for data storage, thereby thwarting buffer overflow exploits. While the NX bit (No-eXecute bit) is a hardware feature that contributes to DEP by marking memory pages as non-executable, DEP itself is the primary mechanism for enforcing non-executable memory protection and mitigating buffer overflow attacks.
I'm going with C. the question says that a file with a ".prg" extension was found on a workstation when investigating. ".prg" usually stands for "programming" so we can assume that there was some malicious code that caused the buffer overflow attack. Dep prevents buffer overflow from malicious code. "Code", is the word I'm focusing on here. Drawing the parallel between ".prg" and "code" I'm going with DEP
Key word here is "manipulate". NX bit also works on the RAM. While both ASLR and NX bit mitigate against buffer overflow attacks, the NX bit prevents the execution of code in a segment of the memory that is designated as non-executable. In other words, NX bit will prevent an attacker to *manipulate* a non-executable memory segment into executing a malicious code
To mitigate the manipulation of memory segments, particularly in the context of a buffer overflow attack, the technology that is primarily designed for this purpose is: C. DEP (Data Execution Prevention) DEP is a security feature that helps prevent the execution of code in certain regions of memory that should only contain data. It helps protect against buffer overflow and similar attacks by marking certain areas of memory as non-executable. ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization): ASLR is a security feature that randomizes the memory addresses used by system files and key program components. While it enhances security, its primary goal is to make it more difficult for attackers to predict the memory addresses of specific functions, not to prevent the manipulation of memory segments directly.
C. DEP (Data Execution Prevention) not ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization)
The correct answer is A - NX bit. -------------------- https://eklitzke.org/memory-protection-and-aslr -------------------- ******(The NX bit, which is present on all 64-bit x86 systems (and some later 32-bit x86 systems), is an important measure which helps mitigate this attack)******. Systems that implement this functionality have three permissions bits: read, write, and execute. These permissions work exactly the same as the filesystem read/write/execute bits. What happens on these systems is that text areas are mapped to be readable + executable and data areas are mapped to be readable + writable but not executable. It's also possible to map data areas to be just readable. ******(With the NX bit the simplest and most dangerous stack buffer overflow attack is prevented because any x86 code injected into the stack cannot be executed.)******
I think you are right. I tried to find under ALSR if it protected against manipulation of " MEMORY SEGMENTS" And I simply don't see that anywhere. however in the NX bit I do see that. They both protect from buffer over flow but only one specialize in segments.
Option A ?