Chapter 04 network security

Chapter 4: Network Security
CCNA Exploration 4.0
2
Objectives
•
Identify security threats to enterprise networks
•
Describe methods to mitigate security threats to enterprise networks
•
Configure basic router security
•
Disable unused router services and interfaces
•
Use the Cisco SDM one-step lockdown feature
•
Manage files and software images with the Cisco IOS Integrated File
System (IFS)
3
Introduction to Network Security
4
Why is Network Security Important?
•
Computer networks have grown in both size and importance in a very
short time. If the security of the network is compromised, there could be
serious consequences, such as loss of privacy, theft of information, and
even legal liability. To make the situation even more challenging, the
types of potential threats to network security are always evolving.
5
The Increasing Threat to Security
6
The Increasing Threat to Security

•
Over the years, network attack tools and methods have evolved.
•
As the types of threats, attacks, and exploits have evolved, various terms
have been coined to describe the individuals involved:
–
White hat
–
Hacker
–
Black hat
–
Cracker
–
Phreaker
–
Spammer
–
Phisher
7
Think Like a Attacker
Seven-step process to gain information and state an attack:
•
Step 1. Perform footprint analysis (reconnaissance).
•
Step 2. Enumerate information.
•
Step 3. Manipulate users to gain access.
•
Step 4. Escalate privileges.

•
Step 5. Gather additional passwords and secrets.
•
Step 6. Install backdoors.
•
Step 7. Leverage the compromised system.
8
Types of Computer Crime
•
Insider abuse of network access
•
Virus
•
Mobile device theft
•
Phishing where an organization is
fraudulently represented as the
sender
•
Instant messaging misuse
•
Denial of service
•
Unauthorized access to
information
•
Bots within the organization
•
Theft of customer or employee
data

•
Abuse of wireless network
•
System penetration
•
Financial fraud
•
Password sniffing
•
Key logging
•
Website defacement
•
Misuse of a public web
application
•
Theft of proprietary
information
•
Exploiting the DNS server
of an organization
•
Telecom fraud
•
Sabotage
9
Open versus Closed Networks
10
Developing a Security Policy
•

The first step any organization should take to
protect its data and itself from a liability
challenge is to develop a security policy: a
set of principles that guide decision-making
processes and enable leaders in an
organization to distribute authority confidently.
•
A security policy meets these goals:
–
Informs users, staff, and managers of their
obligatory requirements for protecting
technology and information assets
–
Specifies the mechanisms through which these requirements can be
met
–
Provides a baseline from which to acquire, configure, and audit
computer systems and networks for compliance with the policy
•
A security policy can be as simple as a brief Acceptable Use Policy for
network resources, or it can be several hundred pages long and detail
every element of connectivity and associated policies.
11
Developing a Security Policy
•
ISO/IEC 27002 is intended to be a common basis and practical guideline
for developing organizational security standards and effective security
management practices. The document consists of 12 sections:
•
Risk assessment

•
Security policy
•
Organization of information security
•
Asset management
•
Human resources security
•
Physical and environmental security
•
Communications and operations management
•
Access control
•
Information systems acquisition, development, and maintenance
•
Information security incident management
•
Business continuity management
•
Compliance
12
Common Security Threats
•
When discussing network security, three common factors are
vulnerability, threat, and attack.
Vulnerability
•
Vulnerability is the degree of weakness which is inherent in every

network and device.
•
There are three primary vulnerabilities or weaknesses:
–
Technological weaknesses
–
Configuration weaknesses
–
Security policy weaknesses
13
Vulnerabilities: Technological weaknesses
14
Vulnerabilities: Configuration weaknesses
15
Vulnerabilities: Security policy weaknesses
16
Common Security Threats
Threats to Physical Infrastructure
•
The four classes of physical threats are:
–
Hardware threats: Physical damage to servers, routers,
switches, cabling plant, and workstations
–
Environmental threats: Temperature extremes (too hot
or too cold) or humidity extremes (too wet or too dry)
–
Electrical threats: Voltage spikes, insufficient supply
voltage (brownouts), unconditioned power (noise), and
total power loss

–
Maintenance threats: Poor handling of key electrical
components (electrostatic discharge), lack of critical spare
parts, poor cabling, and poor labeling
17
Physical Security Measures
18
Physical Security Measures
19
Common Security Threats: Threats to Networks
20
Common Security Threats: Threats to Networks
•
Threats to Networks: four primary classes
•
Unstructured Threats : consist of mostly inexperienced individuals
using easily available hacking tools. An attacker's skills can do serious
damage to a network.
•
Structured Threats: come from individuals or groups that are more
highly motivated and technically competent. These people know system
vulnerabilities and use sophisticated hacking techniques to penetrate
unsuspecting businesses.
•
External Threats: arise from individuals or organizations working
outside of a company who do not have authorized access to the
computer systems or network.
•
Internal Threats: occur when someone has authorized access to the
network with either an account or physical access.

21
Common Security Threats: Social Engineering
•
The easiest hack involves no computer skill at all.
•
Social engineering: an intruder can trick a member of an organization
into giving over valuable information, such as the location of files or
passwords.
•
Phishing is a type of social engineering attack that involves using e-mail
or other types of messages in an attempt to trick others into providing
sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or passwords.
•
Phishing attacks can be prevented by educating users and implementing
reporting guidelines when they receive suspicious e-mail.
22
Types of Network Attacks
•
Reconnaissance
–
Is the unauthorized discovery and mapping of systems,
services, or vulnerabilities.
–
It is also known as information gathering and, in most
cases, it precedes another type of attack.
•
Access
–
Is the ability for an intruder to gain access to a device for
which the intruder does not have an account or a

password.
•
Denial of service (DoS)
–
Is when an attacker disables or corrupts networks,
systems, or services with the intent to deny services to
intended users.
•
Worms, Viruses, and Trojan Horses
23
Reconnaissance Attacks
•
Reconnaissance attacks can consist of the following:
–
Internet information queries
–
Ping sweeps
–
Port scans
–
Packet sniffers
•
The information gathered by eavesdropping can be used to pose other
attacks to the network.
•
Two common uses of eavesdropping are as follows:
–
Information gathering: Network intruders can identify
usernames, passwords, or information carried in a packet.
–

Information theft: The theft can occur as data is
transmitted over the internal or external network. The
network intruder can also steal data from networked
computers by gaining unauthorized access.
24
Reconnaissance Attacks
•
Three of the most effective methods for counteracting eavesdropping are
as follows:
–
Using switched networks instead of hubs so that traffic
is not broadcast to all endpoints or network hosts.
–
Using encryption that meets the data security needs of
the organization without imposing an excessive burden on
system resources or users.
–
Implementing and enforcing a policy directive that forbids
the use of protocols with known susceptibilities to
eavesdropping.
•
Encryption provides protection for data susceptible to eavesdropping
attacks, password crackers, or manipulation.
25
Access Attacks
•
Access attacks exploit known vulnerabilities in authentication services,
FTP services, and web services to gain entry to web accounts,
confidential databases, and other sensitive information.
•

Password Attacks:
–
Implemented using a packet sniffer to yield user accounts
and passwords that are transmitted as clear text.
–
Use programs repeatedly attempt to log in as a user using
words derived from a dictionary.
–
Another password attack method uses rainbow tables.
–
A brute-force attack tool is more sophisticated