Slowloris

Slowloris is a highly targeted denial-of-service (DoS) tool developed specifically for disrupting web servers by creating slow HTTP requests. Unlike traditional DoS attacks that rely on overwhelming network traffic, Slowloris sends partial HTTP requests at intervals, causing the target server to keep connections open indefinitely. This gradual buildup of half-open connections eventually overwhelms the server, causing it to stop responding to legitimate requests. Slowloris was designed by security researcher RSnake and has gained popularity as a powerful, low-footprint tool, especially against servers vulnerable to slow connection exploits.

Key Features

What Does It Do?

Slowloris is specifically designed to target and exhaust server resources. By sending a series of incomplete HTTP requests, Slowloris causes the server to keep connections open, consuming resources as it waits for the remainder of each request. This leads to a condition where the server cannot respond to new requests from legitimate users. Over time, this saturation leads to a denial of service, making the web server unresponsive. As a result, legitimate traffic suffers as the server’s resources are monopolized by the half-open connections generated by Slowloris.

This type of targeted DoS attack is ideal for assessing vulnerabilities in HTTP server configurations, making it a valuable tool in cybersecurity testing and research.

What is Unique About Slowloris?

Slowloris stands out because it requires minimal resources to execute while being highly effective against certain types of web servers. Traditional DoS tools flood servers with high traffic, but Slowloris instead uses a “slow drip” method, sending partial requests at a steady pace. This approach allows the attack to consume server resources without triggering common intrusion detection systems (IDS). Its ability to work on a low-bandwidth network and evade detection makes it especially useful for ethical hacking and penetration testing.

Unlike many DoS tools, Slowloris focuses specifically on the HTTP protocol, making it well-suited for targeting certain configurations of Apache, Nginx, and other web servers. This unique approach to DoS attacks is what has made Slowloris a popular choice among penetration testers and cybersecurity researchers.

Who Should Use Slowloris?

Slowloris is an ideal tool for:

Supported Platforms to Deploy Slowloris

Slowloris is written in Python, making it compatible with a variety of platforms that support Python, including:

To install Slowloris, users can clone the repository from GitHub and follow simple setup instructions. Its platform versatility ensures that Slowloris can be used in various environments, from local machines to cloud-based systems. For users new to Slowloris, it’s recommended to deploy in a controlled testing environment to avoid unintended service disruptions.

Pricing

Slowloris is an open-source tool, making it completely free to download, use, and modify. It’s available on GitHub and maintained by the open-source community. This free, open-source status makes it an accessible choice for cybersecurity professionals, network administrators, and ethical hackers alike.

Short Summary

Slowloris is a powerful, low-footprint DoS attack tool that targets HTTP servers by leveraging slow HTTP requests to keep connections open and exhaust server resources. With its unique slow-drip approach and minimal bandwidth requirements, Slowloris serves as an effective tool for cybersecurity professionals, network administrators, and ethical hackers seeking to test server resilience against denial-of-service attacks. Its open-source nature and compatibility across major platforms make it both accessible and versatile for various cybersecurity applications.