CompTIA PenTest+ Practice Test

What type of injection attack involves altering the XML data structures in a message?

1. SQL Injection

2. XML Injection

3. Command Injection

4. Buffer Overflow

The correct answer is: XML Injection

The type of injection attack that involves altering XML data structures in a message is XML Injection. This type of attack specifically targets systems that rely on XML for communication or data storage. By manipulating the XML content, an attacker can gain unauthorized access, alter data, or even affect the processing of the XML data by exploiting vulnerabilities in applications that handle XML input. XML Injection exploits the structure of XML documents, allowing attackers to inject their own data or alter existing data in ways that the application may not anticipate. This can lead to various security vulnerabilities, including data corruption, unauthorized data access, or even Denial-of-Service (DoS) conditions if the application fails to handle the altered input correctly. In contrast, SQL Injection targets databases by injecting malicious SQL queries into input fields, Command Injection executes arbitrary commands on the host operating system, and Buffer Overflow exploits memory allocation vulnerabilities. While all these attacks manipulate input to execute malicious commands or alter behavior, XML Injection is distinct in its focus on the structure and manipulation of XML data specifically.