What characterizes an application layer attack?

An application layer attack specifically targets software applications, aiming to exploit vulnerabilities within the code of those applications. This type of attack often involves techniques such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, or buffer overflows, where an attacker takes advantage of flaws in the software's design or implementation.

These attacks can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or other malicious actions. What sets application layer attacks apart is their focus on the application rather than the underlying hardware or network protocols. By targeting weaknesses in the application code, attackers can manipulate how applications process data, leading to potentially severe consequences for the application's security and integrity.

In contrast, network protocol-targeted attacks focus on disrupting or manipulating the data being transmitted over a network, hardware exploitation involves compromising the devices themselves, and attacks based purely on network congestion do not exploit vulnerabilities but rather utilize overwhelming traffic to disrupt service.