When an attacker is inserting text that is too large to fit within a region of memory, what type of attack are they trying to perform?

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The scenario described refers specifically to a buffer overflow attack, which occurs when an attacker inputs data that exceeds the allocated memory space, or buffer. This excess data can overwrite adjacent memory spaces, potentially leading to various malicious outcomes, such as arbitrary code execution or the corruption of data.

In the context of memory management, a buffer is a contiguous block of computer memory that stores data temporarily. When input exceeds this buffer’s capacity, it can spill over into adjacent areas of memory, which may contain executable code or data structures. This vulnerability is often exploited by attackers to inject their own code or to manipulate the program's behavior.

Other types of attacks mentioned do not involve overwhelming a buffer with excessive data. SQL injection involves inserting malicious SQL code into a query, typically targeting database interactions, while sniffing refers to intercepting network traffic to capture sensitive information. Cross-site scripting (XSS) involves injecting malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, which does not directly correlate with overflowing memory buffers. Thus, buffer overflow is the clearest and most accurate description of the attack being performed in this scenario.

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