CompTIA Exam Prep - ITF+, A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+

 Deserialization Attacks: A CEH and PenTest+ Exam Prep Guide What Is a Deserialization Attack? Serialization converts an in-memory object into a byte stream or string so it can be stored or sent over a network; deserialization reverses the process, rebuilding the object on the other end. Most application frameworks do this constantly — session tokens, cached objects, and API payloads all pass through serialization at some point. An insecure deserialization attack happens when an application deserializes data from an untrusted source without first verifying it. Because the deserialization process itself can trigger code execution — not just rebuild harmless data — an attacker who controls the serialized input can potentially hijack that process entirely. For both CEH and PenTest+, this sits under the OWASP Top 10: it was A8:2017-Insecure Deserialization and now lives inside A08:2021-Software and Data Integrity Failures , alongside other attacks that abuse an application's trust i...

 Bluto Explained: CEH and PenTest+ Exam Prep Guide What Is Bluto? Bluto is a Python-based reconnaissance tool built for the earliest phase of an engagement: passive and active DNS and OSINT footprinting . In one run, it can attempt a DNS zone transfer, brute-force subdomains against a wordlist, and harvest email addresses and metadata tied to a target domain from public sources. It matters to both CEH and PenTest+ candidates because it packages several classic footprinting techniques — the kind exam questions describe individually — into a single utility. Knowing what Bluto does is  shorthand for understanding what  zone transfers ,  subdomain enumeration , and  email harvesting   reveal about a target, and why a real engagement almost always starts here rather than jumping straight to scanning or exploitation.

  STP Attacks: A CompTIA Pentest &  CEH Exam Prep Guide What Is an STP Attack? Every switched network with redundant links relies on the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to prevent Layer 2 loops. STP works quietly in the background, electing a root bridge and blocking backup paths so frames can't circle endlessly and melt down the network with a broadcast storm. That quiet trust is exactly what attackers exploit. An STP attack targets this loop-prevention logic itself. By injecting forged Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs), an attacker can force the switched network to recalculate its topology, seize the root bridge role, or trigger a denial-of-service condition. For the CEH exam, STP attacks sit alongside VLAN hopping, ARP spoofing, and MAC flooding as core Layer 2 network-based attacks you're expected to recognize, execute conceptually, and defend against.