Mitigating Risks with SSHepherd®
Understanding the open port attack surface is crucial for securing your network. In this blog, we’ll explore a couple of tools to help you identify Internet-facing open ports, the services running on them, and any associated vulnerabilities. These steps are vital for a thorough multi-layered network security strategy.
Identifying Open Ports with MxToolbox
First, head over to MxToolbox and select the DNS Lookup menu item. In the search box, enter the domain name of your organization and hit enter. MxToolbox will output an IP address for the domain. This IP address is your starting point for identifying open ports and the services running on them.
Using Shodan for Deep Port Analysis
Next, take the IP address obtained from MxToolbox and go to Shodan. Paste the IP address into the search bar at the top and hit enter. Shodan will display a list of open ports on that IP address. For a more comprehensive analysis, consider registering with Shodan. This allows you to see a range of IP addresses by adding “/24” to the search. Additionally, you can perform more granular searches for specific port numbers and view the vulnerabilities associated with those open ports.
The Hacker’s Perspective
Understanding what hackers can do after finding these open ports is essential. Open ports are like discovered doors with locks on them. Behind these doors could be valuable assets such as credit card information, customer data, Social Security numbers, patient records, and more. Hackers have several tools to try to pick these locks:
- Brute Force Dictionary Attacks: Hackers attempt to guess usernames and passwords from a pre-compiled list.
- Credential Stuffing: Using credentials acquired from other breaches to see if they work on the newly discovered systems.
- Exploiting Vulnerabilities: Leveraging known vulnerabilities (CVEs) to compromise unpatched hosts.
- Man-in-th-Middle Attacks: Intercepting traffic from open ports to gather sensitive information.
- Banner Grabbing: Sending ping requests to the system and analyzing the returned packets to identify system details and vulnerability.
The Impact of Open Ports on Your Organization
Open ports on your network can significantly impact your organization. Tools like Shodan are continuously scanning, identifying systems, and building databases of vulnerabilities. This persistent activity can lead to your network being cataloged as a potential target for cybercriminals.
Leaving open ports exposed can have severe consequences for your organization. Cybercriminals can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to your systems, steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, or even launch ransomware attacks. The financial and reputational damage resulting from such incidents can be devastating, leading to significant losses, legal liabilities, and erosion of customer trust.
Mitigating Risks with SSHepherd®
SSHepherd® is designed to protect your network by closing these open ports. With SSHepherd®, tools like Shodan will only see an IP address with no open ports or services. This security makes your network a less attractive target for hackers, who will likely move on to easier prey.
By using SSHepherd®, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with open ports. SSHepherd® helps ensure that hackers cannot exploit vulnerabilities in your network, thus safeguarding your valuable data and maintaining the integrity of your systems. It provides an additional layer of security making it more difficult for cybercriminals to identify potential entry points.
Conclusion
In this blog, we’ve covered how to find open ports on your network, understand the risks associated with them, and learn how SSHepherd® can help mitigate these risks. By identifying and securing open ports, you can protect your organization from potential cyber threats. Implementing robust security measures, such as SSHepherd®, is essential in today’s ever-evolving threat landscape.