Data execution prevention is a feature in most operating systems intended to protect against which type of attack?

A.
Cross-site scripting

B.
Buffer overflow

C.
Header manipulation

D.
SQL injection

Explanation:
Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature included in modern operating systems. It marks areas of memory as either “executable” or “nonexecutable”,
and allows only data in an “executable” area to be run by programs, services, device drivers, etc. It is known to be available in Linux, OS X, Microsoft Windows,
iOS and Android operating systems. DEP protects against some program errors, and helps prevent certain malicious exploits, especially attacks that store
executable instructions in a data area via a buffer overflow.
A buffer overflow occurs when a program or process tries to store more data in a buffer (temporary data storage area) than it was intended to hold. Since buffers
are created to contain a finite amount of data, the extra information – which has to go somewhere – can overflow into adjacent buffers, corrupting or overwriting the
valid data held in them. Although it may occur accidentally through programming error, buffer overflow is an increasingly common type of security attack on data

integrity. In buffer overflow attacks, the extra data may contain codes designed to trigger specific actions, in effect sending new instructions to the attacked
computer that could, for example, damage the user’s files, change data, or disclose confidential information. Buffer overflow attacks are said to have arisen
because the C programming language supplied the framework, and poor programming practices supplied the vulnerability.
Incorrect Answers:
A: Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a type of computer security vulnerability typically found in Web applications. XSS enables attackers to inject client-side script into
Web pages viewed by other users.
Cross-site scripting uses known vulnerabilities in web-based applications, their servers, or plug- in systems on which they rely. Exploiting one of these, attackers
fold malicious content into the content being delivered from the compromised site. When the resulting combined content arrives at the client-side web browser, it
has all been delivered from the trusted source, and thus operates under the permissions granted to that system. By finding ways of injecting malicious scripts into
web pages, an attacker can gain elevated access-privileges to sensitive page content, session cookies, and a variety of other information maintained by the
browser on behalf of the user. Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is not used to prevent against this type of attack. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
C: A header manipulation attack uses other methods (hijacking, cross-site forgery, and so forth) to change values in HTTP headers and falsify access. When used
with XSRF, the attacker can even change a user’s cookie. Internet Explorer 8 and above include InPrivate Filtering to help prevent some of this. By default, your
browser sends information to sites as they need it–think of requesting a map from a site; it needs to know your location in order to give directions. With InPrivate
Filtering, you can configure the browser not to share information that can be captured and manipulated. Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is not used to prevent
against this type of attack. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
D: SQL injection is a code injection technique, used to attack data-driven applications, in which malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field for
execution (e.g. to dump the database contents to the attacker). SQL injection must exploit a security vulnerability in an application’s software, for example, when
user input is either incorrectly filtered for string literal escape characters embedded in SQL statements or user input is not strongly typed and unexpectedly
executed. SQL injection is mostly known as an attack vector for websites but can be used to attack any type of SQL database. Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is
not used to prevent against this type of attack. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/buffer-overflow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-site_scripting
Dulaney, Emmett and Chuck Eastton, CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Sixth Edition, Sybex, Indianapolis, 2014, p 340
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_injection