DoS Attacks and Defense Technologies in Blockchain Systems: A Hierarchical Analysis

2025-07-30

AI Summary

Increasing denial-of-service (DoS) attacks targeting both the smart contract layer and consensus layer of blockchain systems pose severe threats to system availability and reliability. Method: This paper proposes a systematic, hierarchical analysis framework that constructs a novel DoS attack taxonomy aligned with blockchain’s layered architecture. It conducts root-cause analysis of attack principles, triggering mechanisms, and impact propagation paths across these two critical layers, and comparatively evaluates the effectiveness boundaries of existing detection and defense techniques. Contribution/Results: The work innovatively transcends conventional single-layer security paradigms by revealing how cross-layer coordinated attacks fundamentally undermine holistic security capabilities. The proposed taxonomy and analytical framework provide a reusable theoretical tool and practical reference for precisely identifying attack surfaces, optimizing defense strategies, and enhancing overall system stability—thereby advancing systematic resilience engineering in blockchain infrastructure.

Technology Category

• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Application Domains: Security
• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Scalability, Parallel & Distributed Systems

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Blockchains and distributed ledgers
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Economic aspects of blockchain and cryptocurrencies
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Attacks and countermeasures in recommendation systems

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.

Problem

• Analyzes DoS attacks in blockchain systems by hierarchy
• Explains contract and consensus layer DoS attack methods
• Compares detection and defense technologies for blockchain security

Innovation

• Hierarchical analysis of DoS attacks
• Focus on contract and consensus layers
• Comprehensive defense technology comparison