Does it make sense to consider a server software crash, as a DOS attack?
I've found a little vulnerability in a website running on a Node.js server.
It works by sending the server some crafted payload, which makes the server code throw an error, and due to lack of error handling - It crashes (until someone runs it again).
I'm not sure what is the appropriate name for this kind of attack.
I assume it's a DOS (Denial Of Service) attack because it makes the server Deny Serving its clients.
On the other hand, Until now, I've only heard of DOS attacks which works by flooding the server in some way (which isn't the case here).
So, is it correct to consider it as a DOS attack?
If the answer is no, so how should it be called?
denial-of-service
asked 4 hours ago
MatíasMatías
161
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I've found a little vulnerability in a website running on a Node.js server.
It works by sending the server some crafted payload, which makes the server code throw an error, and due to lack of error handling - It crashes (until someone runs it again).
I'm not sure what is the appropriate name for this kind of attack.
I assume it's a DOS (Denial Of Service) attack because it makes the server Deny Serving its clients.
On the other hand, Until now, I've only heard of DOS attacks which works by flooding the server in some way (which isn't the case here).
So, is it correct to consider it as a DOS attack?
If the answer is no, so how should it be called?
denial-of-service
asked 4 hours ago
MatíasMatías
161
New contributor
Matías is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
If an application is well-written then it won't have any crash-type DOS bugs and an attacker will have to resort to a full DDOS (which will always work if the attacker has a bigger firehose than the target). However if the target app has an easy-to-trigger crash, then I'm sure any attacker would rather send the single crafted packet and save themselves the $$ of running a DDOS network.
– Mike Ounsworth
3 hours ago
As long as it prevents users from using the service it is a DOS. I have worked on a website that was DOS attacked by Google and Bing simply because Drupal cannot handle the load (I wanted to say could not but I believe it still can't).
– slebetman
16 mins ago
add a comment |
I've found a little vulnerability in a website running on a Node.js server.
It works by sending the server some crafted payload, which makes the server code throw an error, and due to lack of error handling - It crashes (until someone runs it again).
I'm not sure what is the appropriate name for this kind of attack.
I assume it's a DOS (Denial Of Service) attack because it makes the server Deny Serving its clients.
On the other hand, Until now, I've only heard of DOS attacks which works by flooding the server in some way (which isn't the case here).
So, is it correct to consider it as a DOS attack?
If the answer is no, so how should it be called?
denial-of-service
asked 4 hours ago
MatíasMatías
161
New contributor
Matías is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I've found a little vulnerability in a website running on a Node.js server.
It works by sending the server some crafted payload, which makes the server code throw an error, and due to lack of error handling - It crashes (until someone runs it again).
I'm not sure what is the appropriate name for this kind of attack.
I assume it's a DOS (Denial Of Service) attack because it makes the server Deny Serving its clients.
On the other hand, Until now, I've only heard of DOS attacks which works by flooding the server in some way (which isn't the case here).
So, is it correct to consider it as a DOS attack?
If the answer is no, so how should it be called?
denial-of-service
denial-of-service
asked 4 hours ago
MatíasMatías
161
New contributor
Matías is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
MatíasMatías
161
New contributor
Matías is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
MatíasMatías
161
New contributor
Matías is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
MatíasMatías
161
asked 4 hours ago
MatíasMatías
161
161
New contributor
Matías is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Matías is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Matías is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
If an application is well-written then it won't have any crash-type DOS bugs and an attacker will have to resort to a full DDOS (which will always work if the attacker has a bigger firehose than the target). However if the target app has an easy-to-trigger crash, then I'm sure any attacker would rather send the single crafted packet and save themselves the $$ of running a DDOS network.
– Mike Ounsworth
3 hours ago
As long as it prevents users from using the service it is a DOS. I have worked on a website that was DOS attacked by Google and Bing simply because Drupal cannot handle the load (I wanted to say could not but I believe it still can't).
– slebetman
16 mins ago
add a comment |
If an application is well-written then it won't have any crash-type DOS bugs and an attacker will have to resort to a full DDOS (which will always work if the attacker has a bigger firehose than the target). However if the target app has an easy-to-trigger crash, then I'm sure any attacker would rather send the single crafted packet and save themselves the $$ of running a DDOS network.
– Mike Ounsworth
3 hours ago
As long as it prevents users from using the service it is a DOS. I have worked on a website that was DOS attacked by Google and Bing simply because Drupal cannot handle the load (I wanted to say could not but I believe it still can't).
– slebetman
16 mins ago
If an application is well-written then it won't have any crash-type DOS bugs and an attacker will have to resort to a full DDOS (which will always work if the attacker has a bigger firehose than the target). However if the target app has an easy-to-trigger crash, then I'm sure any attacker would rather send the single crafted packet and save themselves the $$ of running a DDOS network.
– Mike Ounsworth
3 hours ago
If an application is well-written then it won't have any crash-type DOS bugs and an attacker will have to resort to a full DDOS (which will always work if the attacker has a bigger firehose than the target). However if the target app has an easy-to-trigger crash, then I'm sure any attacker would rather send the single crafted packet and save themselves the $$ of running a DDOS network.
– Mike Ounsworth
3 hours ago
As long as it prevents users from using the service it is a DOS. I have worked on a website that was DOS attacked by Google and Bing simply because Drupal cannot handle the load (I wanted to say could not but I believe it still can't).
– slebetman
16 mins ago
As long as it prevents users from using the service it is a DOS. I have worked on a website that was DOS attacked by Google and Bing simply because Drupal cannot handle the load (I wanted to say could not but I believe it still can't).
– slebetman
16 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
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votes
Yes. Any attack which has as a goal to deny the normal usage of a service by legitimate users is by definition a DoS (Denial of Service).
answered 4 hours ago
DarkMatterDarkMatter
89711
add a comment |
DDoS is characterised by floods, creating a DoS. But DoS can be caused by a broad range of triggers.
CVSS even has an example for you:
Due to a flaw in the handler function for RPC commands, it is possible
to manipulate data pointers within the Virtual Machine Executable
(VMX) process. This vulnerability may allow a user in a Guest Virtual
Machine to crash the VMX process resulting in a Denial of Service
(DoS) on the host or potentially execute code on the host.
[empasis mine]
So, yes, a simple crash is a DoS.
answered 3 hours ago
schroeder♦schroeder
74.5k29163198
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active
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active
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votes
Yes. Any attack which has as a goal to deny the normal usage of a service by legitimate users is by definition a DoS (Denial of Service).
answered 4 hours ago
DarkMatterDarkMatter
89711
add a comment |
Yes. Any attack which has as a goal to deny the normal usage of a service by legitimate users is by definition a DoS (Denial of Service).
answered 4 hours ago
DarkMatterDarkMatter
89711
add a comment |
Yes. Any attack which has as a goal to deny the normal usage of a service by legitimate users is by definition a DoS (Denial of Service).
answered 4 hours ago
DarkMatterDarkMatter
89711
Yes. Any attack which has as a goal to deny the normal usage of a service by legitimate users is by definition a DoS (Denial of Service).
answered 4 hours ago
DarkMatterDarkMatter
89711
answered 4 hours ago
DarkMatterDarkMatter
89711
answered 4 hours ago
DarkMatterDarkMatter
89711
answered 4 hours ago
DarkMatterDarkMatter
89711
89711
add a comment |
add a comment |
DDoS is characterised by floods, creating a DoS. But DoS can be caused by a broad range of triggers.
CVSS even has an example for you:
Due to a flaw in the handler function for RPC commands, it is possible
to manipulate data pointers within the Virtual Machine Executable
(VMX) process. This vulnerability may allow a user in a Guest Virtual
Machine to crash the VMX process resulting in a Denial of Service
(DoS) on the host or potentially execute code on the host.
[empasis mine]
So, yes, a simple crash is a DoS.
answered 3 hours ago
schroeder♦schroeder
74.5k29163198
add a comment |
DDoS is characterised by floods, creating a DoS. But DoS can be caused by a broad range of triggers.
CVSS even has an example for you:
Due to a flaw in the handler function for RPC commands, it is possible
to manipulate data pointers within the Virtual Machine Executable
(VMX) process. This vulnerability may allow a user in a Guest Virtual
Machine to crash the VMX process resulting in a Denial of Service
(DoS) on the host or potentially execute code on the host.
[empasis mine]
So, yes, a simple crash is a DoS.
answered 3 hours ago
schroeder♦schroeder
74.5k29163198
add a comment |
DDoS is characterised by floods, creating a DoS. But DoS can be caused by a broad range of triggers.
CVSS even has an example for you:
Due to a flaw in the handler function for RPC commands, it is possible
to manipulate data pointers within the Virtual Machine Executable
(VMX) process. This vulnerability may allow a user in a Guest Virtual
Machine to crash the VMX process resulting in a Denial of Service
(DoS) on the host or potentially execute code on the host.
[empasis mine]
So, yes, a simple crash is a DoS.
answered 3 hours ago
schroeder♦schroeder
74.5k29163198
DDoS is characterised by floods, creating a DoS. But DoS can be caused by a broad range of triggers.
CVSS even has an example for you:
Due to a flaw in the handler function for RPC commands, it is possible
to manipulate data pointers within the Virtual Machine Executable
(VMX) process. This vulnerability may allow a user in a Guest Virtual
Machine to crash the VMX process resulting in a Denial of Service
(DoS) on the host or potentially execute code on the host.
[empasis mine]
So, yes, a simple crash is a DoS.
answered 3 hours ago
schroeder♦schroeder
74.5k29163198
answered 3 hours ago
schroeder♦schroeder
74.5k29163198
answered 3 hours ago
schroeder♦schroeder
74.5k29163198
answered 3 hours ago
schroeder♦schroeder
74.5k29163198
74.5k29163198
add a comment |
add a comment |
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If an application is well-written then it won't have any crash-type DOS bugs and an attacker will have to resort to a full DDOS (which will always work if the attacker has a bigger firehose than the target). However if the target app has an easy-to-trigger crash, then I'm sure any attacker would rather send the single crafted packet and save themselves the $$ of running a DDOS network.
– Mike Ounsworth
3 hours ago
As long as it prevents users from using the service it is a DOS. I have worked on a website that was DOS attacked by Google and Bing simply because Drupal cannot handle the load (I wanted to say could not but I believe it still can't).
– slebetman
16 mins ago