What is VM Hopping?

VM Hopping refers to the ability of an attacker to move between virtual machines (VMs) on the same host without authorization. This type of attack capitalizes on vulnerabilities or misconfigurations within the virtualization layer. By gaining access to one VM, a malicious actor can exploit it to jump or "hop" to another VM that is running on the same underlying hardware.

The essence of VM Hopping lies in the interaction between multiple virtual machines that share the same physical resources. If proper security measures and isolation are not enforced, this can create opportunities for unauthorized access and lateral movement within the virtual environment. Therefore, understanding this concept is crucial for IT professionals who manage virtualized environments to maintain security and integrity.

As for the other choices, while they relate to virtualization and security, they do not accurately define VM Hopping. An attack on the host operating system involves direct breaches to the main system managing the virtualization, while escaping the hypervisor environment signifies a more serious exploit that allows control over the host itself. Accessing external networks from a VM simply refers to network functions rather than the specific security concerns associated with hopping between VMs.