Which of the following is a hallmark of code injection attacks?

The hallmark of code injection attacks is the insertion of unvalidated data into a running application. This process typically occurs when an attacker exploits a vulnerability in a web application by sending malicious input that is then executed by the application, leading to various potential outcomes such as unauthorized data access, data manipulation, or execution of arbitrary code.

In the context of these attacks, "unvalidated data" refers to data that has not been properly checked or sanitized before being processed by an application. If an application fails to validate inputs adequately, it becomes susceptible to attacks like SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), or Command Injection, where attackers can influence the behavior of the application in harmful ways.

Ultimately, this vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing robust input validation and sanitation processes within applications to protect against such attacks. While strong firewalls, anti-malware solutions, and regular backups are all important security practices, they do not specifically address the unique vector that code injection exploits, which lies in the mishandling of input data.