Exploring the Potential of Shodan: From Networking to Cybercrime

Introduction

The cyber web is bustling with an ocean of information, boasting a spectacular 0.33 zettabytes of data being shared every day. Now with that humongous wealth of data being shared, the virtual space has become a naturally vulnerable crime scene for threat actors to rob data worth millions. To combat these vulnerabilities, cybersecurity experts apply various tools and techniques to identify flaws and fix them on an emergency basis. Shodan is one such leading tool that is deployed by security teams all over for scanning networks and identifying intelligently planted devices.

Overview

Shodan (Sentient Hyper-Optimized Data Access Network) is, technically, a search engine.
Introduced in 2009, the shodan search engine is engineered to collect information about publicly accessible devices in a network. However, there is a catch - because of this distinct feature, Shodan has become a potent tool yielding both advantages and threats in the network system. Both hackers and security professionals use Shodan for the same purposes but for different reasons.
Currently, Shodan registers over 3 million users globally, including 89% of the Fortune 100, 5 leading Cloud Service Providers, and 1000+ universities.

Shodan Features

Popularly dubbed as the search engine for the Internet of Things (IoT), Shodan boasts a bunch of intuitive features to simplify IoT vulnerability detection. Let’s explore some of the key features of Shodan:

i) Discovering Devices:

The Shodan browser is an effective network scanner, capable of discovering anything and any devices present or connected to the network. It ranges anything from power plant websites to smart refrigerators to smartphones, and even Minecraft servers.


ii) Bird-view Network Monitoring:

With Shodan, security professionals, and pen testers can have a comprehensive view of all the exposed and vulnerable interconnected devices to ensure optimum network security.


iii) Customised Search Functionality:

Shodan’s robust search interface allows users to find specific devices and services based on certain criteria - like location, operating system, ports, and even some specific keywords.


iv) Exploit Integration:

The shodan vulnerability search engine integrates with exploit databases like ExploitDB to extract vulnerability reports of known exploits in the network. This specific feature enables users to assess the potential risks linked with vulnerable devices.


v) Geolocation Accuracy:

Can determine the accurate location of vulnerable devices based on their IP addresses.


vi) Internet Intelligence:

Shodan in iot is a great help for security professionals. These experts deploy the search engine to track the evolution of IoT products and how they change over time. Security experts count on Shodan to gather insights into the technology that drives the internet.


vii) Security Beyond Perimeter:

Shodan vulnerability search expands beyond your network across the internet. This search engine scanner is capable of detecting cloud vulnerability, phishing websites, and more.

How does it work?

Step 1 Shodan is a vulnerability assessment search engine that searches the web to map and scan vulnerable interconnected devices with open ports.
Step 2 On detecting the open ports, Shodan captures information about the devices, which is known as ‘banner grabbing’.
Step 3 Shodan then sorts and organises the data for efficient searching within a database. This systematic sorting of data enables users to filter searches for location-specific services, devices, and vulnerabilities.

This vulnerability assessment tool knocks every imaginable port of all IP addresses 24*7. Though some ports return nothing, most respond with banners containing metadata about susceptible devices that Shodan requests to connect with.

Shodan browser benefits

Besides detecting vulnerable devices across the cyber web, Shodan offers several other benefits of cybersecurity. Such as:

i) Research and Analysis: Researchers and analysts can use Shodan to closely study internet-connected devices and their geographical distribution. This helps them to gain insights into the global network trends and emerging threats.
ii) Asset Management: Organisations can use Shodan to keep track of their internet-connected company devices and services - ensuring they are properly configured with the latest security patches.
iii) Compliance Monitoring: Pen testers and security professionals use Shodan to monitor their infrastructure for compliance with security standards and regulations - such as detecting open ports that must be timely mitigated.
iv) Competitive Intelligence: Businesses and organisations use Shodan to assess their competitors' digital presence. The competitive study helps them to identify potential areas of network infrastructure improvement with the best security measures.

Use cases

i) Corporate Security: Shodan can aid IT teams in mapping out every endpoint in a company's network, ensuring each is securely configured and safe.
ii) Infrastructure Oversight: Shodan empowers public and private sectors to assure that all systems—such as traffic or power networks—are safeguarded and free of potential vulnerabilities. It's also useful for detecting outdated systems that may be obsolete.
iii) Industry Insights: Businesses can leverage Shodan to monitor how their devices and software are distributed across networks. This helps companies like Google in tracking Android devices or smart thermostat producers in analysing their market reach.
iv) Research and Analysis: Academics and cybersecurity experts can use Shodan to investigate the types of devices and software connecting to the internet. The process offers them a clear view of trends in security and the internet's overall composition.
v) Home Protection: Shodan helps to check how many devices in your home are publicly reachable. Devices like printers and baby monitors don't need access to the open internet.

Limitations

Besides being a powerful web scanning tool, Shodan also comes with its share of limitations as follows:

i) Shodan's data might not always be up-to-date, as scans are conducted periodically and may lack updates on real-time changes in device configurations or vulnerabilities.
ii) Although Shodan scans a wide variety of devices, it may not cover every corner of the internet or every type of connected device.
iii) Can pose ethical and legal concerns, especially if the data is misused, which may limit the safe and responsible application of the tool.
iv) May present incorrect information about devices being misidentified or vulnerabilities being overstated. It's a serious challenge since these reports can lead to misinformed decision-making.
v) While Shodan offers a free version, its full capabilities require a paid subscription.

Conclusion

Shodan plays a pivotal role in today's dynamic digital landscape by providing insights into the vast and interconnected world of the Internet of Things (IoT). With advanced breaches sprouting the scene, Shodan helps security professionals and governmental bodies identify vulnerable endpoints and potential security threats within the networks. Empower your Shodan pen testing skills with our expert-curated cyber security courses online.

Q1. What networking training is recommended for using Shodan effectively?

To use Shodan effectively, it's recommended to have a solid foundation in networking principles, including TCP/IP, network protocols, and network architecture. Familiarity with cybersecurity concepts, such as firewalls and intrusion detection, is also beneficial.

Q2. How does Shodan benefit IoT device management and security?

Shodan aids in IoT device management and security by providing insights into connected devices across networks. It helps identify potential vulnerabilities, or unsecured devices that may pose security risks.

Q3. How does Shodan's expertise impact a security engineer's salary?

Security engineers with expertise in Shodan can command higher salaries due to their specialised skills in identifying network vulnerabilities and assessing device security. Mastering Shodan can lead to better job opportunities and increased earning potential for security engineers.