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## https://sploitus.com/exploit?id=EAF535F8-2F48-5602-A94F-A23F1EE7692D
> **A controlled cybersecurity lab for simulating, capturing, and analyzing common web attack traffic using DVWA, Wireshark, Nmap, and Gobuster.**
---
## ๐ Overview
This project is a hands-on **Web Attack Detection & Traffic Analysis Lab** built on **Kali Linux**. It simulates real-world web attack scenarios โ SQL Injection, XSS, Port Scanning, and Directory Enumeration โ in a safe, isolated Docker environment.
Captured network packets are analyzed using **Wireshark** to study how each attack manifests in traffic and how it can be detected through patterns and filters.
---
## ๐ฏ Objectives
- Deploy a deliberately vulnerable web app (DVWA) using Docker
- Generate both normal and malicious HTTP/TCP traffic
- Capture and inspect packets using Wireshark
- Identify and document attack signatures and detection techniques
- Build a reproducible lab for security learning and demonstration
---
## ๐ ๏ธ Tools & Technologies
| Tool | Role |
|------|------|
| ๐ **Kali Linux** | Penetration testing OS |
| ๐ณ **Docker** | Container runtime for DVWA |
| ๐ **DVWA** | Deliberately Vulnerable Web App |
| ๐ก **Wireshark** | Network packet capture & analysis |
| ๐ **Nmap** | Port scanning & service detection |
| ๐ **Gobuster** | Directory & file enumeration |
| ๐ **Git & GitHub** | Version control & documentation |
---
## โ๏ธ Setup & Installation
### Prerequisites
```bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install docker.io wireshark nmap gobuster git -y
```
### Start Docker
```bash
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
```
### Deploy DVWA
```bash
# Pull the DVWA image
sudo docker pull vulnerables/web-dvwa
# Run DVWA on port 8080
sudo docker run -d -p 8080:80 vulnerables/web-dvwa
```
### Access the Application
Open your browser and navigate to:
```
http://127.0.0.1:8080
```
| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Username | `admin` |
| Password | `password` |
| Security Level | `Low` |
> After login, click **"Create / Reset Database"** on the setup page, then log in again.
---
## ๐ฅ Attacks Simulated
### 1. ๐ Port Scanning โ Nmap
```bash
nmap -sV 127.0.0.1
```
**What it does:** Discovers open ports and identifies running services on the target host.
**Traffic signature:** Burst of TCP SYN packets across multiple ports.
---
### 2. ๐ SQL Injection
Navigate to: `DVWA โ SQL Injection`
```sql
' OR 1=1#
```
**What it does:** Bypasses authentication or leaks database contents by injecting SQL logic.
**Traffic signature:** HTTP GET/POST requests with encoded SQL characters (`%27`, `OR`, `=`, `#`).
---
### 3. ๐งจ Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Navigate to: `DVWA โ XSS (Reflected)`
```html
alert('XSS')
```
**What it does:** Injects executable JavaScript into a web page response.
**Traffic signature:** HTTP requests containing `` tags or encoded JS payloads.
---
### 4. ๐ Directory Enumeration โ Gobuster
```bash
gobuster dir -u http://127.0.0.1:8080 -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txt
```
**What it does:** Brute-forces hidden directories and files on the web server.
**Traffic signature:** Hundreds of rapid HTTP GET requests with 404/403/200 responses.
---
## ๐ Wireshark Traffic Analysis
### Starting a Capture
```bash
# Capture on loopback interface
sudo wireshark &
# Select interface: lo (loopback)
```
### Key Filters Used
| Purpose | Wireshark Filter |
|---------|-----------------|
| All HTTP traffic | `http` |
| TCP traffic | `tcp` |
| SYN scan detection | `tcp.flags.syn==1 && tcp.flags.ack==0` |
| SQL injection patterns | `http contains "OR" && http contains "="` |
| XSS payloads | `http contains "script"` |
| Specific target IP | `ip.addr == 127.0.0.1` |
| High request volume | `http.request.method == "GET"` |
### Traffic Observations
| Attack | Observable Pattern |
|--------|-------------------|
| Nmap Scan | Rapid SYN packets to sequential ports, no full handshake |
| SQL Injection | URL-encoded characters: `%27`, `%20OR%20`, `%23` |
| XSS | `` tags visible in HTTP payload |
| Gobuster | Hundreds of requests/sec, high 404 rate, uniform User-Agent |
---
## ๐ Repository Structure
```
web-attack-detection/
โ
โโโ ๐ pcaps/
โ โโโ README.md # Instructions for pcap files
โ
โโโ ๐ reports/
โ โโโ findings.md # Detailed findings & analysis
โ
โโโ .gitignore
โโโ CONTRIBUTING.md
โโโ README.md
```
---
## ๐ Key Findings
- **Nmap SYN scans** produced a distinct burst of TCP SYN packets with no corresponding ACK โ a classic half-open scan fingerprint.
- **Gobuster enumeration** generated an abnormally high volume of sequential GET requests with a near-identical User-Agent string โ easily detectable as automated.
- **SQL Injection payloads** appeared as URL-encoded parameters in HTTP traffic (e.g., `id=%27+OR+1%3D1%23`).
- **XSS payloads** were visible as raw `` content within HTTP response bodies when security level was set to Low.
- Attack traffic was **clearly distinguishable** from normal browsing through packet rate, payload content, and response code distribution.
---
## ๐ Skills Demonstrated
- Network Packet Capture & Inspection
- Web Application Penetration Testing
- Attack Pattern Recognition & Documentation
- Linux System Administration
- Docker Container Management
- Cybersecurity Reporting
---
## โ ๏ธ Disclaimer
> This project was conducted entirely in a **controlled, isolated lab environment** for **educational purposes only**.
> All attacks were performed against a local, intentionally vulnerable application (DVWA).
> **Never perform security testing on systems you do not own or have explicit written permission to test.**
> The author holds no responsibility for any misuse of the techniques demonstrated here.
---
โญ **Star this repo if it helped you learn something!**
[](https://github.com/Debasish-Nayak-656/web-attack-detection)