CISSP Study Plan – Day 42 of 55 | Data Diddling and the Salami Attack
- Luke Ahmed
- Nov 4, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
“Maybe these little attacks like data diddling or salami attack won't be in the exam, but they build upon the core foundations of CISSP.” – Luke Ahmed
Today is Day 42 of Yihenew’s CISSP study plan, covering two classic — and often overlooked — security threats: Data Diddling and the Salami Attack.
These attacks may sound simple, even outdated, but they represent the heart of what CISSP teaches: understanding how small, unnoticed manipulations can lead to large-scale integrity failures. CISSP isn’t just about advanced threats — it’s about knowing how the basics can be weaponized.
Key Areas Covered in the CISSP Study Plan
Data Diddling:
The unauthorized modification of data before or during input into a system.
Often subtle — attackers change values that alter calculations, records, or results without being immediately detected.
Example: A payroll clerk changes a few employee salary figures before processing. The data is stored, processed, and output — all based on false inputs.
Salami Attack:
Involves making tiny, repeated adjustments that individually seem insignificant but accumulate into major theft or fraud.
Example: Skimming fractions of a cent from millions of transactions and depositing them into an attacker’s account.
Often automated and hidden within legitimate processes — hard to detect without integrity and audit mechanisms.
Why They Matter for CISSP:
Both attacks exploit weaknesses in integrity controls, input validation, and monitoring.
They remind CISSP professionals that not all threats require complex exploits — some only need opportunity and access.
CISSP Exam Tie-In
Expect exam questions that test your understanding of data integrity violations and insider threats.If a scenario describes small unauthorized modifications or accumulated fractional theft, think Data Diddling or Salami Attack.
Key takeaway:
These are integrity-based attacks — not availability or confidentiality issues.
Strong audit controls, change detection, and transaction verification prevent them.
Quick CISSP Practice Question
Which of the following best describes a Salami Attack?
A. Modifying data during transmission to disrupt availability
B. Making small, unnoticed changes to transactions that accumulate over time
C. Gaining unauthorized access through privilege escalation
D. Altering input data before processing for immediate gain
✅ Correct Answer: B. Making small, unnoticed changes to transactions that accumulate over time
Explanation:The Salami Attack involves fractional manipulations that go undetected individually but result in large cumulative fraud. It’s an integrity violation often carried out by insiders.
Think Like a Manager:Every risk doesn’t need a zero-day exploit — sometimes, it’s a decimal point. A CISSP prevents both the breach and the subtle erosion of trust.
👉 Can you take the Yani Challenge?
55 days of consistent CISSP prep, tackling one domain at a time, using only the resources below:
Course
Luke's CISSP Course (2 months access, $89.98)
One-to-one Zoom sessions with Luke Ahmed (2 weeks before exam)
Books, Notes, and Practice Questions
All-In-One Study Guide by Shon Harris (Around $45)
Sybex 10th Edition (Around $52.55)
Total Cost: approxiamately $250 depending on your geographic location. Yani is located in East Africa.
📚 Study Plan (55 Days of Dedication):
- Weekdays: 2–3 hours of focused study—late nights and early mornings (5 AM).
- Weekends: 5–6 hours of deep study sessions.
Pass CISSP in first attempt within 100 questions.
Yani's biggest expense was his time, committment, consistency, and dedication! It was worth it because he passed first attempt in 100 questions using the above resources only.
If Yihenew could do it, so can you.
All the best Future CISSP. You can feel free to contact me anytime as well.
Thank you.
Luke Ahmed
