Rate limiting is a process used to control the number of requests a user can make to a server within a specific period. It helps prevent overloading the server and most importantly it reduces the chances of an attacker exploiting vulnerabilities like brute-force attacks or denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Websites and APIs often implement rate limiting through various techniques, including limiting requests based on IP addresses, API keys or user authentication tokens.
Rate limit bypass refers to the techniques used by attackers to circumvent the protections put in place by rate limiting mechanisms. By exploiting weaknesses in the implementation or using various tactics attackers can make excessive requests without triggering the rate limit, gaining access to resources or launching attacks undetected.
Before we dive into the bypass techniques let’s review some common ways websites and APIs implement rate limiting:
- IP-Based Rate Limiting: Restricting the number of requests from a specific IP address within a set time…