Network Monitoring and Enumerating Vulnerabilities in Large Heterogeneous Networks

In this paper, we present an empirical study on vulnerability enumeration in computer networks using common network probing and monitoring tools. We conducted active network scans and passive network monitoring to enumerate software resources and their version present in the network. Further, we used the data from third-party sources, such as Internet-wide scanner Shodan. We correlated the measurements with the list of recent vulnerabilities obtained from NVD using the CPE as a common identifier used in both domains. Subsequently, we compared the approaches in terms of network coverage and precision of system identification. Finally, we present a sample list of vulnerabilities observed in our campus network. Our work helps in approximating the number of vulnerabilities and vulnerable hosts in large networks, where it is often impractical or costly to perform vulnerability scans using specialized tools, and in situations, where a quick estimate is more important than thorough analysis.