ASN (Autonomous System Number) (Copy)
An Autonomous System Number (ASN) is a unique identifier assigned to an autonomous system (AS) by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). An Autonomous System is a collection of connected Internet Protocol (IP) routing prefixes under the control of one or more network operators that present a standard, clearly defined routing policy to the Internet.
An ASN is like a unique identification number for a network or a group of networks managed by a single entity (like an Internet Service Provider, a large company, or a university). This number is crucial for how data travels across the Internet.
Here's why ASNs are important in cybersecurity:
Network Identification: ASNs help identify the source and destination of internet traffic. This information is critical in investigating cyberattacks and tracking malicious activity.
Routing Analysis: Analyzing the paths that internet traffic takes (which involves ASNs) can help detect suspicious routing patterns that might indicate an attack or data interception attempts.
Reputation: ASNs can develop a reputation (good or bad) based on the activity originating from them. Security systems use this reputation to filter traffic, block malicious sources, and protect networks.
DDoS Mitigation: Understanding ASNs is crucial in mitigating Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. Security professionals use ASN information to identify and block traffic from attacking networks.
Border Control: Firewalls and other security devices can use ASN-based rules to control network traffic, allowing or blocking connections based on the ASN.
ASNs provide valuable contextual information about network traffic, essential for various cybersecurity functions.
Here's how ThreatNG's capabilities can be applied to enhance cybersecurity practices related to ASNs:
ThreatNG's external discovery capabilities provide a broad view of an organization's digital footprint, which includes identifying the ASNs associated with its internet-facing assets.
By discovering the ASNs involved, ThreatNG helps security professionals map the network infrastructure and understand the potential threats' context.
ThreatNG can perform purely external unauthenticated discovery using no connectors.
ThreatNG's external assessment capabilities offer valuable insights related to ASNs:
Cyber Risk Exposure: ThreatNG considers parameters from its Domain Intelligence module, including certificates, subdomain headers, vulnerabilities, and sensitive ports, to determine cyber risk exposure. This assessment can be linked to ASNs to evaluate the risk associated with specific network blocks. For example, if ThreatNG identifies many vulnerabilities associated with a particular ASN, it indicates a higher cyber risk exposure for assets within that ASN.
ThreatNG assesses various susceptibility ratings (e.g., web application hijack, subdomain takeover) that can provide a more detailed understanding of potential attack vectors when correlated with ASN information. For instance, identifying a high susceptibility to subdomain takeover within a specific ASN could indicate a risk of attackers using that ASN to launch attacks.
3. Reporting
ThreatNG provides various reports, including technical and security ratings reports, that can incorporate ASN information.
These reports can help security teams visualize and analyze risks associated with specific ASNs, enabling them to prioritize security measures and allocate resources effectively.
ThreatNG's continuous monitoring of external attack surfaces and digital risks includes monitoring parameters that can be associated with ASNs.
This continuous monitoring allows security teams to track changes in risk exposure related to specific ASNs, enabling them to promptly detect and respond to emerging threats.
ThreatNG's investigation modules provide detailed information that can be used to analyze and understand cybersecurity risks related to ASNs:
Domain Intelligence: This module provides insights into domain-related information, which can often be linked to ASNs. For example, ThreatNG can help security professionals map the relationship between domains and ASNs by analyzing DNS records and identifying the associated IPs.
IP Intelligence: ThreatNG provides IP intelligence, including information on IPs, Shared IPs, ASNs, and Country Locations. This information is crucial for understanding network traffic's origin and destination and identifying potential malicious activity associated with specific ASNs.
ThreatNG's intelligence repositories contain valuable data that can help in assessing ASN-related risks:
Dark Web Presence: ThreatNG's dark web monitoring can identify mentions of ASNs or related network infrastructure on the dark web, which could indicate potential threats or compromised assets.
Known Vulnerabilities: ThreatNG's information on known vulnerabilities can help security teams identify vulnerable assets within specific networks when correlated with ASN data.
7. Working with Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG's capabilities can complement other security solutions to enhance ASN-related security:
SIEM Systems: ThreatNG's data on IP addresses and ASNs, along with threat intelligence, can be integrated into SIEM systems to improve the detection and analysis of malicious network activity.
Firewalls and Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): ThreatNG's ASN information can be used to create rules in firewalls and IDS/IPS to block or monitor traffic from specific ASNs associated with malicious activity.
