What is Active Attack? | Types of security Attack in network security | What is cryptanalysis?

 

What is cryptographic Security Attack?

A cryptographic attack is a method for circumventing the security of a cryptographic system by finding a weakness in a code, cipher, cryptographic protocol or key management scheme. This process is also called "cryptanalysis".

Types of Security Attack in Cryptography

Figure: Classification of Security Attack in Cryptography

Active Attack

Masquerade

Figure shows masquerade attack.

Figure: Masquerade (Active Attack)

A masquerade take place when an attacker pretends to be an authentic user. Authentication sequence can be captured & replayed after a valid authentication sequence has taken place. It generally done to gain access to a system, or steal information from system.

 

Replay Attack

Figure shows replay attack.

Figure: Replay Attack (Active Attack)

Replay involves the passive capture of data unit and its subsequent retransmission to produce an unauthorized effect. A replay attack is also known as playback attack where attacker repeatedly keeps on transmitting valid data again and again to make the network jam or delayed the transmission of data.

For example, A and C have bank account in Bank B. A send request to bank B for fund transfer in C’s account. C capture the message produce unauthorized effect of message and get benefits twice for fund transfer. One is from original message and second is from unauthorized message.

Modification of Message

Figure shows modification of message attack. It is also one kind of replay attack.

Figure: Modification of Message (Active Attack)

Some portion message is altered, or that message is delayed or recorded to produce unauthorized effect. When content of message modified after sender sends it but before it reaches to concerned receiver, such type of attack is called modification of message.

For example, A message is “Virat will play and also captain in next match” is modified to “Rohit will play and also captain in next match.”

Denial of Services

Figure shows the denial of services.

Figure: Denial of Services

Denial of service attack means making the network unavailable for the user those who want to communicate securely. Flood the entire network or server with traffic until shutdown occurs because if overload. 

This attack may have a specific target. Other form of this attack is disturbing an entire network, either by disabling the network or by overloading with messages so as to degrade performance.

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