Re: Honeypot detection and countermeasures

From: miguel.dilaj@pharma.novartis.com
Date: Wed Jun 18 2003 - 03:53:39 EDT


Hi Larry

As a general rule, if I've been hired for a pen-test, I don't worry too
much about being detected by a honeypot (but on the personal side, perhaps
I'll feel a little bad ;-)
Some times, when there's a honeypot (or even NIDS), I've been informed in
advance, some times not... it's up to the company that's hiring me, but I
think that this always came on the table when we discussed the results.
A honeypot can usually be seen as low hanging fruit (not a general rule),
at least when comparec with other systems on the same network. So you've
to distrust such a system.
Other than distrusting the low hanging fruit, a honeypot could be seen as
a "no-clear-purpose" machine. So this is another bit to add to your
"distrust feeling".
There're some very clear cases, for example a host with DTK with default
installation, that can be easily avoided upon detecting them.
Cheers,

Miguel
aka Nekromancer

Larry Colen <lrcrypto@red4est.com>
17/06/2003 23:03

 
        To: pen-test@securityfocus.com
        cc:
        Subject: Honeypot detection and countermeasures

Do you worry about being detected by honeypots?

When you do a pen-test, do you already know of the existence of
honeypots, and their location, so that it is an easy matter to avoid
them?

If you are concerned about honeypots, how do you test to see if the
system under attack is a honeypot or a production machine?

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