Unmasking the Cyber Underworld: The Rise of HTTP/2 Rapid Reset Attacks

 

In the dark alleys of the internet, a new breed of cybercriminals is quietly perfecting their art. Meet the villains behind the alarming surge in HTTP/2 rapid reset attacks, a phenomenon that's casting shadows over online security.

In a world driven by technological advances, the internet is the lifeblood of our daily routines. From streaming videos to online shopping, we depend on a seamless digital experience. But hidden from plain sight, cybercriminals have been orchestrating attacks that threaten this very experience.

The Anatomy of HTTP/2 Rapid Reset Attacks

HTTP/2, the second major version of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, revolutionized the web. With its ability to multiplex multiple requests over a single connection, it sped up web page loading times, enhancing our online experience. However, this innovation unintentionally provided a new tool for cyber attackers.

HTTP/2 rapid reset attacks are a variant of DDoS attacks. Here's how they work: Cybercriminals flood a target system with a barrage of HTTP/2 requests, each followed by a rapid reset. This deluge of requests and resets overwhelms the targeted system, causing it to process unnecessary requests, generating logs, and effectively disrupting the user experience.

The Alarming Surge

This new attack vector came to the forefront in late August 2023 when Amazon Web Services (AWS) detected an unprecedented spike in HTTP/2 requests peaking at over 155 million requests per second. They swiftly identified and mitigated these HTTP/2 rapid reset attacks, preventing widespread disruption for AWS customers who had implemented DDoS-resilient architectures.

Guardians of the Digital Realm

In response to this emerging threat, AWS has recommended measures to fortify online security. They suggest implementing a defense architecture that can detect and block unwanted requests, using services like Amazon CloudFront, AWS Shield, Amazon Route 53, and Route 53 Application Recovery Controller.

The Ongoing Battle

While the battle against HTTP/2 rapid reset attacks rages on, the digital guardians of our online world remain vigilant. AWS and other cloud providers, together with the broader security community, are working collaboratively to isolate and neutralize threat actors.

As we continue to embrace the digital age, the underbelly of the internet evolves in tandem. The rise of HTTP/2 rapid reset attacks serves as a stark reminder of the importance of staying one step ahead in the ongoing battle to safeguard our online experiences.