Description: SYN flooding is a type of denial-of-service (DoS) attack that exploits the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) handshake process. This attack is carried out by sending a large number of SYN (Synchronize) packets to a target server, causing the server to become overwhelmed as it attempts to establish TCP connections. During the connection process, the server responds to each SYN packet with a SYN-ACK (Synchronize-Acknowledge) packet, waiting for the client to complete the handshake by sending an ACK (Acknowledge) packet. However, in a SYN flood attack, the attacker does not send the ACK packet, leaving the server in a waiting state, consuming resources and potentially leading to saturation of its capabilities. This type of attack is particularly effective because it can be carried out with a relatively low number of resources, and it can be difficult to mitigate without the proper tools. SYN flooding is a significant threat in the realm of network security, as it can affect the availability of critical services and cause disruptions in the normal operation of systems. Protective measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) are essential to defend against this type of attack.
History: SYN flooding was first identified in the 1990s when denial-of-service attacks on TCP/IP networks began to be documented. One of the earliest papers describing this type of attack was published by security researcher Robert Morris in 1988, although the concept of SYN flooding became more popular later as network technology evolved and cyber attacks became more common. With the growth of the Internet and the expansion of online services, SYN flooding became a technique used by attackers to disrupt services and cause damage to businesses and organizations.
Uses: SYN flooding is primarily used as an attack technique in cybersecurity to disrupt the availability of online services. Attackers may employ this technique to disable web servers, cloud applications, and other critical services, resulting in financial losses and damage to the reputation of affected organizations. Additionally, SYN flooding can be used as part of more complex attacks, combining with other techniques to maximize its effectiveness.
Examples: A notable case of SYN flooding occurred in 2000 when the attack on the Internet service company Mafiaboy resulted in the downtime of several major websites, including CNN and eBay. This attack demonstrated the vulnerability of systems to SYN flooding and led many organizations to implement more robust security measures to protect against such threats.
