What type of attack involves sending ICMP Request packets to a broadcast address?

What type of attack involves sending ICMP Request packets to a broadcast address?

• A. IP spoofing attack
• B. Smurf attack
• C. ICMP redirection attack
• D. SYN Flood attack

Answer: (B)

A Smurf attack specifically involves sending Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request packets (commonly known as "ping" requests) to the broadcast address of a network. When these packets reach the broadcast address, they are sent out to all devices within that network. As a result, each device responds to the spoofed ICMP request, flooding the target with a substantial amount of ICMP Echo Reply traffic. This attack exploits the way ICMP functions and takes advantage of the broadcast capability of IP networks. The attacker typically spoofs the source IP address to hide their true identity and make it appear as if the requests are coming from the target, thus overwhelming the target with replies from multiple devices. Consequently, the correct choice highlights this particular behavior associated with the Smurf attack. In contrast, other options such as IP spoofing attack, ICMP redirection attack, and SYN Flood attack do not directly involve sending ICMP requests to a broadcast address for the purpose of overwhelming a network. IP spoofing is more about falsifying the source IP address, ICMP redirection concerns misleading a host regarding the optimal route for traffic, and SYN Flood attacks center on overwhelming a target with connection requests rather than using broadcast ICMP requests.

A Smurf attack specifically involves sending Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request packets (commonly known as "ping" requests) to the broadcast address of a network. When these packets reach the broadcast address, they are sent out to all devices within that network. As a result, each device responds to the spoofed ICMP request, flooding the target with a substantial amount of ICMP Echo Reply traffic.

This attack exploits the way ICMP functions and takes advantage of the broadcast capability of IP networks. The attacker typically spoofs the source IP address to hide their true identity and make it appear as if the requests are coming from the target, thus overwhelming the target with replies from multiple devices. Consequently, the correct choice highlights this particular behavior associated with the Smurf attack.

In contrast, other options such as IP spoofing attack, ICMP redirection attack, and SYN Flood attack do not directly involve sending ICMP requests to a broadcast address for the purpose of overwhelming a network. IP spoofing is more about falsifying the source IP address, ICMP redirection concerns misleading a host regarding the optimal route for traffic, and SYN Flood attacks center on overwhelming a target with connection requests rather than using broadcast ICMP requests.