200-201 Network Intrusion Analysis Practice Question
During incident response, an analyst extracts files from a PCAP using Wireshark's Export Objects feature. One extracted file is a PDF that triggers an IDS alert for 'Exploit:PDF/HeapSpray'. Which technique does this alert describe?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Heap spray
Heap spray is a memory corruption technique where an attacker fills heap memory with shellcode to increase the chance of code execution, often used in PDF exploits.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Return-oriented programming (ROP)
Why it's wrong here
ROP chains existing code gadgets, not heap spray.
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Shellcode injection
Why it's wrong here
Heap spraying is an exploitation technique that places shellcode at predictable memory addresses, but the alert names the PDF heap-spray behaviour itself, not the payload delivery mechanism. Shellcode injection describes executing injected code after a separate vulnerability is triggered, which would be the answer if the alert cited code execution rather than memory grooming.
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Heap spray
Why this is correct
Heap spray describes shellcode placed repeatedly across heap memory to land at a predictable address during exploitation. The PDF object carries that sprayed payload, which is why the IDS signature names heap spray rather than a buffer overflow or denial-of-service technique.
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Stack buffer overflow
Why it's wrong here
A stack buffer overflow overwrites contiguous stack memory to hijack the return address, whereas heap spraying mass-allocates objects in heap memory to place shellcode at a predictable location. Stack overflows are the right answer when an alert names stack corruption or a smashed return address, not heap grooming.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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