What is a Smurf Attack?
Smurf attack is the kind of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack that happens in the network layer. A Smurf attack might completely overload your machine, rendering it unusable. It is based on the concept of a directed broadcast, and you spoof the ICMP echo request in this.
In other words, the Smurf attack is a DDoS attack in which a
large number of ICMP packets with the faked source IP of the intended victim
are broadcast to a computer network using an IP broadcast address.
You can refer:
Types of Smurf Attack:
There are primarily two types of Smurf attacks:
- Basic Smurf Attack: It happens when an attacker floods the target network with an infinite number of ICMP request packets with a source address set to the network's broadcast address, causing every device on the network to respond. This generates a tremendous quantity of traffic, which eventually brings the system down.
- Advanced Smurf Attack: A Basic Smurf attack is the starting point for an Advanced Smurf attack. The echo requests, on the other hand, can configure sources so they can reply to additional third-party victims. As a result, attackers can target numerous victims at the same time, potentially affecting a third-party victim.
How does Smurf Attack work?
In a Smurf attack, an attacker creates many ICMP packets and transmits them to a computer network's IP broadcast address. The attacker sends ICMP packets with the target host's IP address as the source IP address. The devices receive the ICMP packets in the network, and the devices respond by sending answers, but the source IP addresses of the delivered ICMP packets are falsified.
As a result, all responses are delivered to the IP address of the targeted host. If the network has a large number of devices and most of them respond, the ICMP responses will flag the target host machine. The network traffic slows down the target host system to the point where it is entirely unreachable to authorized users, resulting in a DoS attack.
Why is it called Smurf Attack?
Smurf attacks are named after the “DDoS.Smurf malware” that allows hackers to carry them out.
Which technique is used in Smurf
Attack?
Smurf attack employs amplification and reflection techniques to flood a targeted host.
Smurf Attack prevention:
Some of the techniques to prevent Smurf attacks are:
- While conducting online activities, keep an eye on your network and be highly cautious
- Ensure that any directed broadcast traffic entering the network is blocked
- Use a powerful tool to counter the attack's impact
- Configure your network routers and host devices not to respond to ICMP pings with response messages
- Reconfigure your firewall software to block all ICMP pings from the internet
How can InfosecTrain help?
Cybersecurity is one of the world's most significant issues
today. Cyber attacks will continue to evolve as digital technology advances, so
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about various strategies for preventing cyberattacks like Smurf attacks. You
may learn more about Smurf attacks and how to protect yourself and your company
by enrolling in one of our several cybersecurity training courses, such as CISSP, CISA, CEH, CompTIA PenTest+, and others.
