What does the term 'sandbox escape' refer to?

The term 'sandbox escape' specifically refers to a scenario in which an attacker successfully circumvents the security measures of a sandbox environment. A sandbox is a controlled setting used to run potentially untrusted applications in isolation from the main operating system and other processes. The primary purpose of a sandbox is to prevent malicious software from affecting other parts of a system, thereby containing any harmful behavior.

When an attacker executes a sandbox escape, they are exploiting vulnerabilities within the sandbox itself or using clever techniques to breach its constraints, allowing them to execute malicious actions outside the sandbox zone. This could lead to system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, or the spread of malware beyond the sandbox.

The other options describe different concepts that do not directly relate to the specific action of bypassing sandbox protections. For instance, using malware to bypass user authentication involves different security threats, encrypting data relates to data protection practices, and isolating user data from external access pertains to securing data, rather than escaping sandbox boundaries. Understanding sandbox escape is crucial for maintaining security protocols in environments that utilize virtualization or isolated execution.