Introduction
Two months ago, we started using a Honeypot, a household brand name, to secure our home network. We used the lowest ports and devices to minimize potential threats. Lately, we have been receiving Port Alerts, and one of them caught our attention: an inbound SMB connection from the IP address 192.168.1.1.
What is a Honeypot?
A Honeypot is a security tool that simulates vulnerable systems to attract and distract attackers, allowing security teams to monitor, analyze, and respond to their activities. It is an essential component of a layered defense strategy, providing valuable insights into the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by cybercriminals.
Understanding Port Alerts
Port Alerts are notifications generated by a firewall or intrusion detection system (IDS) when it detects unusual network activity. In this case, an inbound SMB connection from an internal IP address raised our suspicion.
Inbound SMB Connection from 192.168.1.1
SMB (Server Message Block) is a protocol used for sharing files, printers, and other resources between computers. It is a common target for attackers due to its vulnerabilities. An inbound SMB connection from an internal IP address could indicate a potential threat, such as a misconfigured device or a compromised system.
Investigating the Issue
To investigate this issue, we first checked our network inventory to identify the device with the IP address 192.168.1.1. We found that it was an old printer that had been forgotten and was no longer in use. We then checked the printer's configuration and found that it had an open SMB port.
Securing the Printer
We secured the printer by disabling the SMB service and changing the default password. We also updated the printer's firmware to the latest version, which included security patches. We also considered replacing the printer with a more secure model.
Port Alerts are essential for monitoring network activity and identifying potential threats. In this case, an inbound SMB connection from an internal IP address led us to discover a forgotten and insecure printer. By securing the printer, we reduced the risk of a potential attack and improved the overall security of our home network.