Information, Computer and Network Security Terms Glossary and Dictionary

Spanning-Tree Protocol Manipulation

Spanning-Tree Protocol is used in switched networks to prevent the creation of bridging loops in an Ethernet network topology. By attacking the Spanning-Tree Protocol, the network attacker hopes to spoof his or her system as the root bridge in the topology. To do this, the network attacker broadcasts out Spanning-Tree Protocol Configuration/Topology Change Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) in an attempt to force spanning-tree recalculations. The BPDUs sent out by the network attacker's system announce that the attacking system has a lower bridge priority. If successful, the network attacker can see a variety of frames.

Related Terms

Spanning-Tree Protocol Manipulation