iSACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certification Practice Exam

Which attack is a known vulnerability for digital signatures?

1. Denial of service attacks

2. Man-in-the-middle attacks

3. Social engineering attacks

4. Session hijacking

The correct answer is: Man-in-the-middle attacks

Digital signatures are used to ensure the authenticity and integrity of a message or document. However, they can be vulnerable to certain types of attacks, with man-in-the-middle attacks being a prominent concern. In a man-in-the-middle attack, an adversary intercepts the communication between two parties. If the attacker can gain control over the communication channel, they may alter the data being transmitted or even replace a signed document with one of their own before it reaches its intended recipient. In such a scenario, the attacker could effectively pose as both parties, allowing them to compromise the integrity of the digital signature. While the original signing party's private key remains secure, the attacker's ability to manipulate the communication undermines the trust anticipated in such signatures. This demonstrates the significance of secure channels in maintaining the integrity of digital signatures. Other types of attacks listed, like denial of service, social engineering, and session hijacking, do not directly target the vulnerabilities associated with digital signatures in the same manner or context, making them less relevant in this particular context of digital signature vulnerabilities.