OS Fingerprint Packet Filtering for DDoS-Resistant Server Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional DDoS attack detection methods are easily evaded by hackers, making target services susceptible to DDoS attacks, particularly due to the forgery of HTTP request packets.

Innovation Solution

A packet processing method that extracts fingerprint features from transport-layer and network-layer packet headers to identify the operating system type of terminal devices, using a fingerprint feature database to determine whether to allow or block access, thereby preventing DDoS attacks by recognizing valid user access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If HTTP request packet format detection is used to identify DDoS attacks, then attack detection capability is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates because attack packets can be easily forged

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDDoS attack detection capabilityVSAvoidAttack packet identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the packet analysis into multiple layers: network layer (IP header fields like TTL, TOS, source/destination addresses) and transport layer (TCP/UDP header fields like window size, MSS, timestamps). This multi-layer segmentation allows the system to examine different aspects of packet authenticity independently, making it harder for attackers to forge all layers simultaneously and improving overall detection accuracy while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-dimension HTTP payload analysis to multi-dimensional analysis by incorporating network layer and transport layer characteristics. This dimensional expansion creates a more comprehensive detection space where attack packets must satisfy multiple constraints simultaneously, significantly reducing the ability to forge packets and improving measurement precision without sacrificing detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If transport-layer and network-layer fingerprint features are extracted and analyzed, then packet processing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccess request authentication accuracyVSAvoidPacket processing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary extraction of fingerprint features from packet headers before full packet processing. By pre-identifying key characteristics such as TTL values, TCP window sizes, and IP address patterns, the system prepares authentication data in advance, reducing the computational burden during the main processing stage and managing device complexity while maintaining high accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential fingerprint features from packet headers rather than analyzing entire packets. By selectively taking out critical fields like IP addresses, port numbers, and specific header characteristics, the system reduces processing complexity while preserving the authentication accuracy needed to distinguish legitimate from malicious traffic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4044546B1Message processing method, device and apparatus as well as computer readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4044546B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4044546B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4044546B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides a packet processing method, including: receiving, by a protection device, a first access request packet, where the first access request packet includes a packet sent based on a TCP/IP protocol; extracting a first fingerprint feature from a transport-layer packet header and/or a network-layer packet header of the first access request packet, where the first fingerprint feature corresponds to an operating system type of a terminal device that sends the first access request packet; recognizing the first fingerprint feature based on a fingerprint feature database to determine whether to allow the first access request packet to access a server, where the fingerprint feature database includes a fingerprint feature corresponding to an operating system type of a terminal device that is allowed to access the server and/or a fingerprint feature corresponding to an operating system type of a terminal device that is not allowed to access the server; and if the first access request packet is allowed to access the server, allowing the first access request packet to pass through; or if the first access request packet is not allowed to access the server, blocking the first access request packet. This resolves a technical problem that hackers can evade attack detection with relative ease to make a server susceptible to DDoS attacks.