📅 2024-01-28
Automated Network Forensics System
Continuous PCAP capture with 6-hour rotation, automated SCP transfer to storage host, and Wireshark integration for incident response and threat hunting.
Packet AnalysisForensicsAutomationWiresharktcpdump
Overview
Automated packet capture system for continuous network traffic recording, enabling forensic analysis and incident response capabilities.
Key Features
- ✓Continuous packet capture with 6-hour rotation
- ✓Automated SCP transfer to remote storage host
- ✓SSH key-based authentication for security
- ✓Traffic filtering to exclude SSH (prevent capture loops)
- ✓systemd integration for automatic startup and recovery
- ✓Storage management and cleanup of old captures
Challenges & Solutions
- ⚡Preventing SSH traffic capture that would include SCP transfers
- ⚡Managing disk space with high-volume packet captures
- ⚡Ensuring captures survive system reboots
- ⚡Securing SSH keys while allowing automated transfers
Outcomes & Impact
- ●Complete network traffic history for forensic analysis
- ●Ability to investigate security incidents after the fact
- ●Automated, hands-off operation requiring minimal maintenance
- ●Foundation for threat hunting and anomaly detection
Technologies Used
- →tcpdump - Command-line packet capture
- →Bash scripting - Automation and orchestration
- →SCP/SSH - Secure file transfer
- →Wireshark - PCAP analysis and investigation
- →systemd - Service management and automation