Mangled packet

In computer networking, a mangled or invalid packet is a packet—especially IP packet—that either lacks order or self-coherence, or contains code aimed to confuse or disrupt computers, firewalls, routers, or any service present on the network.

Their usage is associated with a type of network attack called a denial-of-service (DoS) attack. They aim to destabilize the network and sometimes to reveal its available services—when network operators must restart the disabled ones.{{cite book|author=Javvin Www Networkdictionary Com|title=Network Dictionary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=On_Hh23IXDUC&pg=PA300|accessdate=21 April 2011|date=1 March 2007|publisher=Javvin Technologies Inc.|isbn=978-1-60267-000-6|page=300}} Mangled packets can be generated by dedicated software such as nmap.

{{As of|2008}}, most invalid packets are easily filtered by modern stateful firewalls.