DDoS Attacks: The Dark Side of Internet Connectivity

Host Vulnerabilities Expose Networks to DDoS Attacks

It’s bad enough that these hosts can be abused by existing attacks, but they can also facilitate new distributed denial of service (DDoS) amplification attacks, the researchers discovered. One concentrates traffic in time, and another loops packets between vulnerable hosts, resulting in an amplification factor of at least 16 and 75, respectively.

New Forms of DDoS Attacks

In addition to these amplification attacks, the hosts can be hit with what the authors call an Economic Denial of Sustainability (EDoS) attack, in which the outgoing bandwidth of a host is drained, or an Administrative Denial of Service, in which the vulnerable hosts send traffic that causes the recipient to file an abuse report with the host’s ISP, possibly leading to its account being suspended.

Defenses Against DDoS Attacks

Countering the Threat

However, CISOs are not without defenses, the paper says. Despite the growing threat of DDoS attacks, there are ways to mitigate their impact and prevent them from causing significant damage to networks and systems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DDoS attacks are a serious threat to the security and integrity of networks and systems. The discovery of vulnerabilities in hosts and the potential for new forms of DDoS attacks highlights the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to prevent and mitigate these attacks. By understanding the threats and developing effective defenses, CISOs can help ensure the security and reliability of their networks.

FAQs

Q: What are DDoS attacks?
A: DDoS attacks are a type of cyber-attack in which a targeted network or system is overwhelmed with traffic, making it difficult or impossible to access or use.

Q: What are Economic Denial of Sustainability (EDoS) attacks?
A: EDoS attacks are a type of DDoS attack in which the outgoing bandwidth of a host is drained, making it difficult for the host to function.

Q: What are Administrative Denial of Service attacks?
A: Administrative Denial of Service attacks are a type of DDoS attack in which the vulnerable hosts send traffic that causes the recipient to file an abuse report with the host’s ISP, possibly leading to its account being suspended.

Q: How can CISOs prevent DDoS attacks?
A: CISOs can prevent DDoS attacks by implementing effective defenses, such as traffic filtering and rate limiting, and by developing proactive measures to detect and mitigate attacks.