Which of the following is an application layer attack that ModSecurity can help protect against?

An application layer attack refers to a type of cybersecurity threat that targets vulnerabilities in software applications, often exploiting weaknesses in the application layer of the OSI model. ModSecurity, a web application firewall (WAF), plays a critical role in protecting web applications from a variety of application layer attacks, including file inclusion attacks.

File inclusion vulnerabilities occur when an application includes files without proper validation or sanitization of the input, potentially allowing an attacker to include malicious files from distant locations or execute local files with unintended consequences. By using ModSecurity, organizations can implement rules to filter and monitor web traffic, preventing such inclusion attacks by detecting suspicious patterns or requests that attempt to include unauthorized files.

In contrast, while geoblocking is a feature used to control access based on geographic location, it is not an attack but rather a protective mechanism against certain attacks. Cleartext protocols refer to unsecured communication channels, which can be mitigated through encryption rather than through application layer protections. NAT traversal involves techniques for navigating network address translation and is not specific to application layer attacks. Therefore, ModSecurity is best aligned with protecting against file inclusion attacks, making this the correct answer.