What is the characteristic weakness associated with bridges in networking?

The characteristic weakness associated with bridges in networking is broadcast storms. Bridges operate at the data link layer and are responsible for filtering and forwarding traffic between different network segments. However, one of the inherent challenges they face is the potential for broadcast packets to proliferate throughout the network.

When a device sends a broadcast frame, it can be forwarded by multiple bridges, leading to the possibility of these broadcasts being sent over and over again throughout the network. If not managed properly, this can create a situation where the network becomes overwhelmed with traffic, which is known as a broadcast storm. This storm can severely degrade network performance, causing slow response times and even network outages.

Understanding the implications of broadcast storms is crucial for network design and management, particularly in environments using bridges. Measures such as implementing proper bridge configurations, using VLANs to segment traffic, and using Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to prevent loops can help mitigate the risks associated with broadcast storms.