An attack stream identification method, apparatus, and device on a software defined network is presented, where an invalid stream filter table is stored in a switch, and the method includes the steps of the switch receives a data packet of a data stream and searches, according to a characteristic value of the data packet, the invalid stream filter table for a state field of a filter entry; when the state field is a suspected attack stream state or a non-attack stream state, the switch sends a report message to a controller, determines a rate value for sending the report message to the controller, and fills the rate value in a rate field of the filter entry; and when the rate value is greater than a preset rate threshold, the switch changes the state field of the filter entry to an attack stream state.