Block Spoofing Attack And It's Mode Of Operation On The Blockchain Network

Source

INTRODUCTION

This is the type attack on blockchain networks that is used to deceive users. It does this this my manipulating the information found in the blockchain network. The block spoofing attack, undermines the principles of the blockchain such as trustlessness , transparency, and immutability. Blockchain networks are made in such a way that transactions can’t be easily altered, but block spoofing attack undermines this.

The security of blockchain networks relies on the correct verification of block, which is also known as the collection of validated transactions. But this attack feeds on the weaknesses in the validation process.

The challenges presented by this attack cannot be overemphasized. It particularly affects blockchain networks with weaker security mechanisms. It erodes trust among users, disrupts operations in the blockchain network and also gives room for other attack such as double spending.

• IMPERSONATION OF MINERS OR VALIDATORS:

One of the primary mode of operation is the impersonation of miners and validators. Miners and validators are responsible for verifying transactions, bundling them into blocks and appending them in the blockchain network. So by using block spoofing attack, the attacker impersonate a validator by compromising their credentials or other means possible

When the attacker succeeds in impersonating the validator, he can now submit spoofed blocks to the blockchain network . This spoofed blocks may contain false transactions and so if the network fails to authenticate a validator, the spoofed block will be accepted into the blockchain, there by causing issues in the blockchain network.

This impersonation act also results to other type of attack such as double spending. For example when an attacker creates a transaction that send funds to another user, he can then impersonate a validator and replace the transaction making the funds to go back to themselves. This act undermines the integrity of a blockchain network.

• FALSE BLOCK PROPAGATION:

Another mode of operation is the propagation of false blocks across the blockchain network. Here the attacker creates a spoof block that is now propagated across the blockchain network, so as to deceive other users into accepting it as part of the legitimate blockchain.

This can be very effective especially in blockchain networks where users are spread across different locations and they rely on peer to peer communication. It takes advantage of the network’s communication delays to introduce false blocks into the network.

Source

Immediately the false block is accepted by majority of the users it becomes part of the blockchain network, thereby resulting to several issues such as incorrect transaction data. In other to prevent this the network uses robust consensus mechanisms that needs multiple confirmation before a block is accepted into the network.

• EXPLOTING NETWORK PARTITIONING:

This is another mode of operation for the block spoofing attack. This type of attack can be executed by taking advantage of a situation called network partitioning , here blockchain network is temporarily split into two or more parts. When this occurs, different part of the network would continue to operate independently leading to the creation of false blocks.

The attacker takes advantage of this situation and introduces spoofed blocks into one or more of the disconnected parts of the blockchain network. Since they won’t be able to communicate with each other they easily accept the spoofed blocks as valid.

This poses serious threat to the blockchain network. It lead to disruption of operations, erode trust that users have in the network, it also undermines the integrity of the blockchain network.

• MANIPULATION OF CONCENSUS PROTOCOLS:

This is the final mode of operation in a block spoofing attack . Consensus protocol are mechanisms that the blockchain network, uses to agree on the state of the blockchain and also uses to make sure that all users are working with the same version of ledger. So using this attack the attacker manipulates the consensus protocol so that their spoofed block will be accepted into the blockchain.

Source

This lead to acceptance of false transactions, and disruption to operation in blockchain networks , especially the networks with less secure consensus protocol.

CONCLUSION

Block spoofing attacks, undermines the security and stability of the affected blockchain network. It does this by impersonating miners, exploiting network partitioning, propagating false blocks and manipulating consensus protocol.