* Definition of MAC Flooding:
* MAC flooding is an attack where a malicious actor sends numerous fake MAC addresses to a switch, overwhelming its CAM table. The CAM table stores MAC addresses and their associated ports for efficient traffic forwarding.
* Impact of MAC Flooding:
* CAM Table Overflow: When the CAM table is full, the switch cannot learn new MAC addresses and is forced to broadcast traffic to all ports, leading to a degraded network performance and potential data interception.
* Switch Behavior: The switch operates in a fail-open mode, treating the network as a hub, which can be exploited for eavesdropping on traffic.
* Comparison with Other Attacks:
* ARP Spoofing: Involves sending false ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) messages to associate the attacker's MAC address with the IP address of another device.
* Evil Twin: Involves creating a rogue wireless access point that mimics a legitimate one to intercept data.
* DNS Poisoning: Involves corrupting the DNS cache with false information to redirect traffic to malicious sites.
* Preventive Measures:
* Port Security: Configure port security on switches to limit the number of MAC addresses per port, preventing CAM table overflow.
* Network Segmentation: Use VLANs to segment network traffic and limit the impact of such attacks.
References:
* CompTIA Network+ study materials on network security threats and mitigation techniques.