DoS Attacks and Defense Technologies in Blockchain Systems: A Hierarchical Analysis
Chunyi Zhang, Fengjiao Dou, Xiaoqi Li
TL;DR
This paper analyzes Denial of Service (DoS) threats in blockchain systems through a seven-layer architectural lens, categorizing attacks by network, consensus, data, and contract layers. It surveys detection and defense methods across all layers and provides a reproducible examination of smart-contract DoS vulnerabilities using Mythril, including a concrete timestamp-dependency example. The study highlights the Diversity of attack surfaces, the corresponding defensive tools, and the challenges of contractor-vulnerability remediation, calling for more holistic, cross-layer research and practical validation. The findings underscore that while blockchain’s decentralization mitigates some DoS risks, layered, adaptive defenses are essential to maintain security and service availability in real-world deployments.
Abstract
Blockchain technology is widely used in various fields due to its ability to provide decentralization and trustless security. This is a fundamental understanding held by many advocates, but it is misunderstood, leading participants to fail to recognize the limitations of the security that blockchain can provide. Among all current network attacks, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks pose significant threats due to their ease of execution and destructive potential. This paper, based on the blockchain architecture hierarchy, categorizes and organizes existing DoS attacks, with a focus on explaining the principles and methods of contract layer and consensus layer DoS attacks. Furthermore, this paper comprehensively analyzes and compares commonly used detection methods and defense technologies, which will contribute to strengthening the security and stability of blockchain systems and promoting further innovation and application of blockchain systems.