Eclipse attacks are a type of attack on blockchain networks where an attacker attempts to control the majority of the network’s nodes by overwhelming the network with malicious nodes. The malicious nodes are used to isolate a specific node or group of nodes, preventing them from participating in the network. This attack can be used to manipulate the network, double spend coins, or prevent transactions from being confirmed.
A blockchain network is a distributed ledger that records a digital asset’s transactions in a secure and tamper-proof manner. Every node on the network stores and verifies data on the blockchain, ensuring that all transactions are valid. However, if an attacker takes control of more than half of the nodes within the network, they can effectively control the consensus process and manipulate the blockchain. This type of attack is known as an Eclipse attack.
Eclipse attacks generally occur when the attacker isolates the victim from the rest of the network by controlling all of the nodes that the victim can connect to. By doing this, the attacker is able to control the flow of information to the victim, allowing them to censor certain transactions and double-spend coins. They can also prevent the network from reaching consensus, which can effectively shut down the network.
Eclipse attacks are a serious threat to blockchain networks, as they can be used to subvert the consensus process and manipulate the blockchain. To protect against these types of attacks, blockchain networks should implement measures to detect and stop such attacks. For example, blockchain networks can implement a node reputation system, which tracks the behavior of each node in the network and ensures that malicious nodes are not allowed to participate in the consensus process. Additionally, networks can use a distributed randomness mechanism to select validators for the network, which would make it harder for an attacker to control more than half of the nodes.
As noted, blockchain Eclipse attacks are a serious threat to the security of blockchain networks. To protect against such attacks, networks should implement measures such as node reputation systems and distributed randomness mechanisms.
Additional info:
1. https://cointelegraph.com/explained/blockchain-eclipse-attacks-explained
2. https://www.coindesk.com/what-is-an-eclipse-attack
3. https://blog.goodaudience.com/blockchain-eclipse-attacks-explained-d5ad0e0c764d
