What type of attacks can DHCP snooping help prevent?

What type of attacks can DHCP snooping help prevent?

• A. Defense against bogus DHCP server attacks
• B. Defense against DoS attacks on the DHCP server
• C. Defense against MAC address flooding attacks
• D. Source MAC address check for data packets

Answer: (A)

DHCP snooping primarily serves as a security feature that helps prevent bogus DHCP server attacks. When DHCP snooping is enabled on a network, it allows the switch to monitor and filter DHCP messages. This is critical because an unauthorized or rogue DHCP server can provide incorrect network settings to clients, leading to various vulnerabilities, such as man-in-the-middle attacks. In environments where DHCP snooping is active, the switch maintains a database of trusted DHCP servers and their corresponding IP and MAC addresses. When a DHCP Offer or ACK arrives from a DHCP server, the switch can verify if it is from a source that is on the trusted list. If it is not, the switch will drop the DHCP packet, effectively blocking the rogue server from allocating IP addresses or providing malicious configurations. This functionality ensures that only legitimate DHCP servers can communicate with clients, thereby maintaining the integrity of the network's IP address allocation process. Other options do not specifically pertain to the primary function of DHCP snooping. For instance, while it might indirectly contribute to overall network security, DHCP snooping is not specifically designed to prevent DoS attacks on the DHCP server or MAC address flooding attacks, nor to check the source MAC addresses of data packets.

DHCP snooping primarily serves as a security feature that helps prevent bogus DHCP server attacks. When DHCP snooping is enabled on a network, it allows the switch to monitor and filter DHCP messages. This is critical because an unauthorized or rogue DHCP server can provide incorrect network settings to clients, leading to various vulnerabilities, such as man-in-the-middle attacks.

In environments where DHCP snooping is active, the switch maintains a database of trusted DHCP servers and their corresponding IP and MAC addresses. When a DHCP Offer or ACK arrives from a DHCP server, the switch can verify if it is from a source that is on the trusted list. If it is not, the switch will drop the DHCP packet, effectively blocking the rogue server from allocating IP addresses or providing malicious configurations.

This functionality ensures that only legitimate DHCP servers can communicate with clients, thereby maintaining the integrity of the network's IP address allocation process. Other options do not specifically pertain to the primary function of DHCP snooping. For instance, while it might indirectly contribute to overall network security, DHCP snooping is not specifically designed to prevent DoS attacks on the DHCP server or MAC address flooding attacks, nor to check the source MAC addresses of data packets.