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Reference.org
Algorithmic complexity attack
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<p>An algorithmic complexity attack (ACA) is a form of attack in which an attacker sends a pattern of requests to a computer system that triggers the <a href="/facts/Best,_worst_and_average_case/Ed9ekH30">worst-case performance</a> of the algorithms it uses. In turn, this may exhaust the resources the system uses. Examples of such attacks include <a href="/facts/ReDoS/1uBQFrRo">ReDOS</a>, <a href="/facts/Zip_bomb/IU35zhEc">zip bombs</a> and <a href="/facts/Billion_laughs_attack/DgWa1pDl">exponential entity expansion attacks.</a> </p>