Honeypot Detection, Rate Limit Testing, and IP Rotation

1. Detecting Honeypots on the Application/Server

Detect honeypot setups by identifying unusual or suspicious server behaviors.

Command:

nmap -sV -p 21-1000 target.com

Output Example:

Starting Nmap 7.80 ( https://nmap.org ) at [date] Nmap scan report for [target-IP] Host is up (0.060s latency). PORT STATE SERVICE VERSION 80/tcp open http Apache httpd |_http-title: Possible Honeypot Detected

Explanation: Use Nmap to check for service versions and titles that might suggest a honeypot, such as unusual service banners or web titles.

2. Testing Rate Limits

Determine server rate limits which could be indicative of a honeypot or security measure.

Command:

for i in {1..100}; do curl -o /dev/null -s -w "%{http_code}\n" target.com; done

Output Example:

200 200 200 403 403 403 ...

Explanation: Sending repeated HTTP requests to identify rate limits. A transition from 200 (OK) to 403 (Forbidden) suggests rate limiting.

3. Detecting False Positives with Nuclei

Identify false positives, which could be a sign of honeypots mimicking vulnerabilities.

Command:

nuclei -u target.com -t /templates

Output:

[RCE] [critical] [http] Possible RCE Vulnerability Detected on target.com

Explanation: Using Nuclei for automated vulnerability scanning can sometimes flag honeypots as critical vulnerabilities.

4. Implementing IP Rotation

After detecting false positives, use IP rotation to bypass honeypot traps or rate limits and recheck findings.

IP Rotation Setup: Configure proxychains or a similar tool for IP rotation using a pool of proxies, VPNs, or TOR.

Command with IP Rotation:

proxychains nuclei -u target.com -t /templates

Output :

[proxychains] Dynamic chain ... 127.0.0.1:9050 ... target.com:80 ... OK [nuclei-template] [medium] [http] Medium XSS Vulnerability Detected on target.com

Explanation: Routing requests through different IPs might reveal actual vulnerabilities, like a Medium XSS, that were masked by a honeypot.

Final Notes

• Manual validation is crucial for confirming automated scan results.
• Engage in ethical hacking and responsible vulnerability disclosure practices.
• Ensure that all testing is authorized and legal.

This comprehensive guide covers the steps to detect honeypots, test rate limits, identify false positives with Nuclei, and implement IP rotation to uncover actual vulnerabilities in a controlled and ethical environment.