What type of attack involves redirecting traffic to a false default gateway?

The attack involving the redirection of traffic to a false default gateway is known as DHCP spoofing. This type of attack manipulates the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol to provide malicious IP information to a device on a network.

In a DHCP spoofing attack, an attacker sets up a rogue DHCP server that responds to client requests instead of the legitimate DHCP server. When a client device connects to the network and requests an IP address, it may receive a different default gateway address from the rogue server. As a result, any traffic from that client destined for external networks, including the internet, is incorrectly routed through the attacker's device, allowing them to intercept, modify, or drop the traffic. This effectively creates a point of control for the attacker over influenced communication.

This process significantly compromises network security since users may not be aware that their network traffic is being manipulated or monitored. Understanding this attack vector is crucial for maintaining network integrity and security measures, such as using DHCP snooping or configuration of trusted ports. These actions help to protect against the risks posed by such attacks, ensuring that only authorized DHCP responses are processed.