Software Defined Networks– Penetration Testing

In a critical event within Software-Defined Network architecture, a major attack occurs on the control plane. An intruder compromises the SDN controller, generates counterfeit network data, and initiates further network-wide assaults.

A breach affects the data plane of the SDN, manipulating a network element to reroute traffic flows for eavesdropping purposes.

The data plane of the network becomes the target of this attack. Monitoring data, such as the time taken for new network connections to establish, can provide adversaries with insights into flow rules.

An incident occurs within the application plane of the SDN. Exploiting application vulnerabilities could lead to malfunctions, service interruptions, or data snooping. Intruders might gain elevated access to an SDN application, enabling unauthorized transactions.

A prevalent threat impacting all SDN sectors is Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS). Perpetrators can utilize DDoS attacks to significantly degrade or completely disrupt SDN services.

A Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attack or ARP cache poisoning poses significant threats. Malicious actors employ ARP spoofing to infiltrate networks, intercept packets, manipulate, or even halt traffic. These attacks can corrupt network topology data and disrupt topology aware SDN applications. Additionally, protocols like LLDP or IGMP serve as potential attack vectors.

Vulnerabilities within software element APIs can enable unauthorized data disclosure by hackers. API exploitation, occurring at the northbound interface, has the potential to disrupt network flows.

Sniffing is a common tactic employed by hackers to intercept and analyze network communication data, potentially leading to data theft. Hackers eavesdrop on network links, exploiting unencrypted communications to intercept traffic to and from a central controller. This intercepted data may contain critical information regarding network flows or transport protocols.

Password guessing or brute force attacks typically target non-SDN components. Through passphrase guessing or brute force techniques, unauthorized users may gain access to the SDN.