Network Security System Thwarting Illegitimate Initialization Attempts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional systems for blocking port scans often misidentify benign initialization attempts as malicious, leading to potential network functionality disruptions, as attackers slow down their scans to evade detection.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the first initialization packet in any connection attempt is intentionally dropped, and only subsequent packets from the same source and destination are acknowledged, distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate attempts without disrupting benign systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional systems detect port scans by identifying repeated packets sent to different ports from the same remote device, then port scans can be blocked, but attackers can slow down their scans to evade detection while maintaining illegitimate access attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by dropping the first initialization packet from any remote device before it can establish communication. This preemptive measure prevents both slow port scans and legitimate connections from succeeding on the first attempt, forcing legitimate systems to send a second packet within a time window to prove their bona fide status.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If systems block all first initialization packets to prevent port scans, then illegitimate attempts are thwarted, but genuine connection attempts from benign systems are also disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by implementing a time-based differentiation mechanism. First packets are dropped, but a time window is established during which a second packet from the same source to the same destination is permitted. This dynamic approach adapts the blocking rule based on temporal patterns, allowing legitimate systems that resend packets within the window while maintaining protection against port scans.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by monitoring whether a second initialization packet arrives from the same source within a predetermined time period. This feedback mechanism distinguishes between malicious port scans (which typically send only one packet per port) and legitimate connections (which resend packets if no response is received), adjusting the blocking behavior accordingly.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If attackers slow down port scan speed to evade pattern detection, then detection accuracy decreases, but the time required to complete a full port scan increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By dropping the first packet preemptively, the system eliminates the need to analyze packet timing patterns or speeds. Whether the attacker sends packets quickly or slowly, the first packet is always dropped, and only systems that resend within the time window are permitted through, making the detection mechanism independent of scan speed.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method for thwarting illegitimate initialization attempts may include (1) receiving an initialization packet designed to initiate communication between a source port on a source computing device and a destination port on a destination computing device, (2) thwarting potential illegitimate initialization attempts by intentionally dropping the initialization packet, (3) receiving an additional initialization packet, (4) determining that the additional initialization packet is from the same source port on the same source computing device and is directed to the same destination port on the same destination computing device as the original initialization packet, and (5) sending an acknowledgement packet that initiates communication between the source computing device and the destination computing device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.