65. While a school district is performing state testing, a security analyst notices that all internet services are unavailable. The analyst discovers that ARP poisoning is occurring on the network and then terminates access for the host. Which of the following is most likely responsible for this malicious activity?
Answer: A
Unskilled attacker
The malicious activity of ARP poisoning is most likely attributed to an unskilled attacker. This type of attack typically involves relatively simple techniques that do not require advanced knowledge, making it accessible to individuals lacking sophisticated skills.
A) Unskilled attacker
This option is correct because ARP poisoning is a common attack that can be executed with basic understanding of networking principles. An unskilled attacker may utilize readily available tools to manipulate ARP tables, leading to network disruptions, such as the loss of internet services observed during the state testing.
B) Shadow IT
Shadow IT refers to the use of unauthorized devices or applications within an organization. While it can pose security risks, it does not directly correlate with ARP poisoning. Shadow IT typically involves the use of personal devices or services, which does not explain the targeted network attack happening in this scenario.
C) Credential stuffing
Credential stuffing is a method where attackers use stolen usernames and passwords to gain unauthorized access to accounts. This technique is unrelated to ARP poisoning, which targets the network layer rather than individual account access, making this option incorrect in the context of the observed network disruption.
D) DMARC failure
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is a protocol used to protect email domains from spoofing. A DMARC failure would not have any relevance to ARP poisoning, as it pertains to email authentication rather than network-level attacks. Therefore, this option is not applicable to the situation described.
Conclusion
The identification of an unskilled attacker as the most likely source of ARP poisoning is supported by the nature of the attack, which requires minimal technical expertise. Other options, such as shadow IT, credential stuffing, and DMARC failure, do not adequately explain the network disruption caused by ARP poisoning, reinforcing that the unskilled attacker is the definitive source of this malicious activity.