In network security context, what does impersonation allow an attacker to achieve?

Impersonation in the context of network security refers to an attacker's ability to pose as a legitimate user or system in order to gain unauthorized access to resources or sensitive information. This can be achieved through various tactics, such as using stolen credentials, session hijacking, or social engineering techniques to deceive another party into believing they are dealing with a trusted entity.

When an attacker successfully impersonates a legitimate user, they can exploit the trust that the system or other users have in that identity, allowing them to bypass security controls and access restricted areas or data. This unauthorized access can lead to further malicious activities, such as data theft, data manipulation, or even lateral movement within a network.

The other options describe different types of attacks that may not directly relate to impersonation. For instance, injecting malware is typically achieved through methods such as exploiting software vulnerabilities, rather than impersonation. Monitoring traffic generally involves techniques that capture data flows across a network without needing to impersonate another user. Performing a denial of service typically aims to disrupt service availability rather than gain access to resources. Thus, while impersonation can facilitate various malicious activities, its primary purpose is to allow the attacker to gain unauthorized access to systems and data.