Which attack type involves DNS server manipulation to provide false information?

Cache poisoning is an attack type that specifically targets the Domain Name System (DNS) by manipulating its cache to store erroneous information. In a cache poisoning attack, an attacker injects false DNS records into the cache of a DNS server. As a result, when users request the IP address associated with a domain name, the compromised DNS server responds with the incorrect address that leads users to malicious sites instead.

This technique exploits the trust that DNS has in its cached data. Once the cache is poisoned, all subsequent queries to that domain made to the manipulated DNS server will return the attacker’s malicious IP address until the cache expires or is cleared. This attack can lead to various malicious outcomes, including phishing attacks or spreading malware, as users are redirected to sites that appear legitimate but are actually controlled by the attacker.

In contrast, domain hijacking involves taking control over a domain name registered to someone else, while gaining access refers to unauthorized entry into systems or networks. Packet sniffing is a method used to capture and analyze data packets traveling over a network and does not inherently involve manipulating DNS information.