Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which version of the Simple Network Management Protocol does not offer strong security?

1. SNMPv3

2. SNMPv2

3. SNMPv1

4. SNMPv4

The correct answer is: SNMPv1

The version of the Simple Network Management Protocol that does not offer strong security is indeed SNMPv1. SNMPv1, the original version of the protocol, was introduced without any built-in security mechanisms. It relies on community strings for authentication, which are essentially shared passwords transmitted in clear text. This lack of encryption makes SNMPv1 vulnerable to eavesdropping, as malicious actors can easily intercept and read these community strings, allowing unauthorized access to the management information of network devices. In contrast, SNMPv2 and SNMPv3 include enhancements in functionality and security. SNMPv2 introduced additional features and improvements but still did not provide robust security mechanisms similar to those found in SNMPv3. SNMPv3 was specifically designed with security in mind, incorporating strong encryption and authentication methods, making it the preferred choice for secure network management. Although SNMPv4 has been mentioned, it is not commonly referenced as a standard version and does not have a widely recognized presence in the industry compared to the earlier versions. Therefore, the emphasis on the security limitations of SNMPv1 is key to understanding why it is positioned as the protocol lacking strong security features.