Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are a growing concern for organizations as they are becoming increasingly frequent and sophisticated. DDoS attacks are a type of cyber attack where the attacker tries to overwhelm the target server with a massive amount of traffic, thereby rendering the server unavailable to users. These attacks can cause significant disruption to business operations and have serious financial consequences. In this blog post, we will discuss the most common DDoS attack vectors and methods used by attackers.

Network-level DDoS attacks

The most common type of DDoS attack is a network-level attack, which is also known as a volumetric attack. In this type of attack, the attacker sends a massive amount of junk traffic to the target server, thereby overloading it and making it unavailable to legitimate users. The traffic is usually generated using a large number of infected devices, also known as botnets, which are controlled by the attacker. Some of the most common methods used in network-level DDoS attacks include:

• UDP Flood: This type of attack is used to flood the target server with a massive amount of UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packets. These packets do not require a response from the target server, which makes it easier for the attacker to send a large amount of traffic to the target.
• ICMP Flood: This type of attack involves sending a massive amount of ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) packets to the target server. ICMP packets are used to test network connectivity, and an attacker can use them to overload the target server and cause it to become unavailable.
• SYN Flood: This type of attack involves sending a large number of SYN (Synchronize) packets to the target server. The server responds to each SYN packet with a SYN-ACK (Synchronize-Acknowledgment) packet, but the attacker never sends the final ACK (Acknowledgment) packet. This causes the server to wait for the ACK packet and eventually become unavailable to legitimate users.

Application-level DDoS attacks

Application-level DDoS attacks target specific applications or services on a target server. The attacker sends a massive amount of legitimate-looking traffic to the target, which causes the server to become unavailable. Some of the most common methods used in application-level DDoS attacks include:

• HTTP Flood: This type of attack involves sending a large number of HTTP requests to the target server. The server must process each request, and a large number of requests can cause it to become unavailable.
• Slowloris: This type of attack involves sending a small amount of traffic to the target server and keeping the connection open for a long period of time. The attacker continues to send small amounts of data, thereby preventing the target server from processing any other requests.
• RUDY: This type of attack is similar to a Slowloris attack but uses UDP packets instead of HTTP requests. The attacker sends a large number of UDP packets to the target server and keeps the connection open for a long period of time, which causes the server to become unavailable.

Protocol DDoS attacks

Protocol DDoS attacks target specific protocols used by the target server, such as DNS, NTP, or SSDP. In these attacks, the attacker sends a large amount of traffic to the target server that uses a specific protocol, thereby causing the server to become unavailable. Some of the most common methods used in protocol DDoS attacks include:

• DNS Amplification: This type of attack involves using a large number of compromised devices to send a large amount of DNS (Domain Name System) queries to the target server. The attacker crafts the queries in such a way that the response from the server is much larger than the original query, thereby amplifying the amount of traffic sent to the target.

• NTP Amplification: This type of attack is similar to a DNS amplification attack, but it targets the Network Time Protocol (NTP) instead of DNS. The attacker sends a large number of NTP requests to a vulnerable NTP server, and the server responds with a much larger amount of traffic, which is then directed to the target server.
• SSDP Amplification: This type of attack targets the Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP) and involves sending a large number of SSDP packets to a vulnerable SSDP server. The server responds with a much larger amount of traffic, which is then directed to the target server.

Hybrid DDoS attacks

Hybrid DDoS attacks are a combination of different types of DDoS attacks, and they can be used to target different parts of the target server’s infrastructure. For example, a hybrid attack might target both the network-level and the application-level of the target server, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the attack.

DDoS attacks are a growing concern for organizations and can cause significant disruption to business operations. Understanding the different types of DDoS attacks and the methods used by attackers is essential for organizations to be able to defend against these attacks. To protect against DDoS attacks, organizations should implement robust security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and traffic filtering, as well as work with their service providers to ensure that their infrastructure is designed to withstand these attacks. Additionally, organizations should monitor their networks for unusual traffic patterns, which could indicate a DDoS attack, and respond quickly if an attack is detected.

Additionally, organizations can also implement DDoS protection services, such as cloud-based solutions or traffic scrubbing services, which can help to filter out the malicious traffic and protect the target server from becoming unavailable. These services work by identifying and blocking the malicious traffic before it reaches the target server, which helps to prevent the server from becoming overwhelmed.

Organizations should also have an incident response plan in place, which should include steps to take in the event of a DDoS attack. This plan should include measures to mitigate the impact of the attack, such as redirecting traffic to a backup server, and steps to identify the source of the attack and prevent it from happening again in the future.

DDoS attacks are a growing threat, and organizations need to be proactive in their defense against these attacks. By implementing robust security measures, working with service providers, and having a well-defined incident response plan, organizations can minimize the risk of a successful DDoS attack and reduce the impact of these attacks on their operations.

Moreover, it is important to stay informed and up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques used by attackers to conduct DDoS attacks. Regularly reviewing the organization’s security posture and making necessary changes can help ensure that the organization is well-equipped to defend against DDoS attacks.

In addition to technical measures, it is also important to raise awareness among employees and educate them on the dangers of DDoS attacks and how they can play a role in protecting the organization from such attacks. For instance, employees should be made aware of the importance of secure password practices and the dangers of clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

In the end, DDoS attacks can have a devastating impact on organizations, and it is crucial for organizations to take the necessary measures to protect their networks from these attacks. By being proactive, staying informed, and taking a multi-layered approach to security, organizations can defend against DDoS attacks and minimize the risk of a successful attack.