What type of attacks seeks to compromise system integrity by manipulating inputs?

The focus of the question is on types of attacks that aim to compromise the integrity of a system by altering or injecting invalid data through inputs. Data contamination aligns perfectly with this definition, as it specifically refers to instances where unauthorized data or wrongful information is introduced into a system. This could involve manipulating inputs to affect how the system processes or interprets data, leading to incorrect outputs or system behavior.

In software development security, ensuring that inputs are validated and sanitized is critical to prevent data contamination. Such attacks can result in significant consequences, including corrupted databases, flawed calculations, or misinformation being propagated throughout the system.

The other terms mentioned do not primarily target input manipulation to compromise integrity. Data theft refers to the unauthorized access and retrieval of sensitive information, phishing involves tricking individuals into revealing confidential information, and access exploitation pertains to unauthorized access to systems or data. While these are serious security threats, they do not specifically focus on the manipulation of inputs to interfere with system integrity as data contamination does.