CompTIA Security+ Exam Prep

Answer: C - A buffer overflow takes place when too much data is accepted as input to an application or operating system. A buffer is an allocated segment of memory. A buffer can be overflowed arbitrarily with too much data, but for it to be of any use to an attacker, the code inserted into the buffer must be of a specific length, flowed up by commands the attacker wants executed. The purpose of a buffer overflow may be either to make a mess by shoving arbitrary data into various memory segments or to accomplish a specific task by pushing into the memory segment a carefully-crafted set of data that will accomplish a specific task.