🛡️ Free practice test question from: buffer overflow (Security+)

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory buffers, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite memory and execute malicious code.

The most comprehensive and effective approach for mitigating memory injection attacks is the implementation of DEP and ASLR. Let me explain why:

1. Data Execution Prevention (DEP): This security feature marks certain areas of memory as non-executable, preventing the execution of injected malicious code. By enabling DEP, the company can ensure that even if an attacker successfully injects code into the application's memory, it cannot be executed.

2. Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR): ASLR randomizes the memory addresses used by system and application processes. This makes it significantly more difficult for attackers to predict the location of specific functions or data structures within memory, thereby thwarting attempts to inject and execute malicious code effectively

By combining DEP and ASLR, the application gains robust protection against memory injection attacks. These techniques directly address the underlying vulnerability of buffer overflows by making memory exploitation substantially more difficult.

One of the possible answers is (D), Input validation is crucial for preventing various injection attacks, including buffer overflows, BUT relying solely on it without DEP and ASLR may not provide comprehensive protection. An IDS can help detect suspicious activities but does not prevent the injection itself.