Home > Articles > Security > General Security and Privacy

Honeynet Project: What a Honeynet Is

This sample chapter from Know Your Enemy: Revealing the Security Tools, Tactics, and Motives of the Blackhat Community describes how Honeynet operating systems and applications are identical to real systems, which lets the Honeynet Project group identify risks and vulnerabilities existing in real environments.
This chapter is from the book

Honeypots

The concept of honeypots has been around for years. Simply put, honeypots are systems designed to be compromised by an attacker. Once compromised, they can be used for a variety of purposes, such as an alerting mechanism or deception. Honeypots were first discussed in a couple of very good papers by several computer security icons: Cliff Stoll's Cuckoo's Egg 1 , and Steve Bellovin and Bill Cheswick's "An Evening with Berferd." 2 Both instances used jail-type technology to capture an intruder's sessions and to monitor in detail what the intruder was up to. The term honeypot came later, but the same intent applies: setting up one or more systems that seem attractive to network intruders but are also capable of monitoring to a fine degree what is going on. By monitoring activity through a honeypot, you can identify the problem and be reasonably sure that you know how the intruder(s) got in and what they are doing on the compromised system. Traditionally, a honeypot has been a single system connected to an existing production network in order to lure attackers. Figure 2-1 shows a single physical system placed in an internal network. This single system can then emulate various systems or vulnerabilities.

Figure 2-1 A traditional stand-alone honeypot

A variety of products or solutions allow you to create your own honeypot. Such options include:

Each of these applications has its own interpretation of what a honeypot is and how it should be used.

For example, the Deception Toolkit, commonly called DTK, is a collection of scripts that emulate various known vulnerabilities. One such simulated vulnerability in DTK is an old Sendmail vulnerability that hands out a fake password file. These scripts are then run on a host system. The attacker gets suckered into taking this fake password file and spending valuable time cracking passwords that are not real. The purpose of the toolkit is deception. This toolkit is also excellent for alerting and learning about known vulnerabilities.

Although such an approach is useful, keep in mind that one of the main goals of the Honeynet Project is to learn about unknown vulnerabilities. With the Deception Toolkit, you are limited to learning about what is already known.

Cybercop Sting is a honeypot that runs on NT emulating an entire network by replicating the IP (Internet Protocol) stacks of various operating systems. A blackhat could scan an entire network and find 15 systems available, each with a different IP address. However, all 15 virtual systems are contained within the one physical honeypot machine. Both the systems and the IP stacks are emulated. The advantage here is that you can quickly and easily replicate an entire network, allowing you to track trends. However, the problem is that you can emulate only limited functionality, such as a TELNET login or an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) banner. The blackhat community has no real operating system to access and interact with beyond that facade.

We wanted to learn everything possible, such as what happens once a system is compromised. We wanted the keystrokes and the system logs of a compromised system. In other words, we wanted our attackers to be able to fully exploit and take over their targets so we could zoom in afterward and learn as much as possible. Given their limited emulation capabilities, products like Cybercop Sting cannot provide that information.

Recourse Mantrap, a commercial product that comes close to the functionality of a Honeynet, does not replicate an operating system but instead runs an image of an operating system within another one. This so-called "jail" has a great advantage in that a real operating system is running. Unknown vulnerabilities can be learned, and the blackhat has a complete OS (operating system) to interact with once the system is compromised. However, you are limited to operating systems that the vendor can provide. For example, you may want to use HPUX or perhaps a network device, such as an Alteon switch. Also, you, the user, still must solve the problem of how to contain the blackhat once the system is compromised. The Recourse Mantrap does not have the capability to limit blackhat activity. An attacker could use the compromised honeypot as a jumping-off point to attack additional systems. The product has excellent data-capture functionality but lacks the ability for detailed data control.

Most of these solutions share the problem of detectable signatures. It may be possible to identify these products based on signatures they leave, allowing moderate or advanced blackhats to realize the deception and move on to safer targets. All these solutions have excellent potential but only for specific requirements. None of them met all our requirements for the Honeynet Project. We wanted a flexible environment in which nothing was emulated, the systems were the same as those found on the Internet, and we could capture the activity of blackhats from beginning to end. Additionally, we did not want to endanger any other systems on the Internet, so we needed a solution that couldn't be used as a jumping-off point for an attack. We devised our own solution to meet all these requirements.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020