Comprehensive Network Redundancy Implementation and Cybersecurity Hardening Project: Ensuring Resilience and Defending Against DHCP Starvation, STP Man-in-the-Middle, and Brute Force Attacks

Author

Seth ShaheenFollow

College

College of Engineering and Polymer Science

Date of Last Revision

2024-06-03 13:00:14

Major

Computer Information Systems

Honors Course

CISS 491-001

Number of Credits

3

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Date of Expected Graduation

Spring 2024

Abstract

I have created a network topology that contains three Cisco routers, three Cisco switches, and three endpoints. The network has been built using the software GNS-3. The endpoints on the topology include one VPC, one Kali Linux VM, and one Ubuntu Server VM. The main purpose of this network topology is to show the skills I have learned during my tenure at The University of Akron. This will be done by hardening this network to ensure that the network is impervious to cyber-attacks. The Kali Linux VM will act as the attacker on the network and conduct three attacks: STP man-in-the-middle, DHCP starvation, and a brute force attack against an SSH connection. The Ubuntu Server VM is configured as a Web Server hosting a website created by me called “SportsBallStore.” SSH is configured and secured on the Ubuntu server as well. To obtain the Cisco router and switch images, the Cisco Modeling Labs – Personal license was purchased by me. The routers have been configured with hostnames, encrypted passwords, static IP addresses, OSPF, and DHCP. The three switches have been configured with hostnames, encrypted passwords, static IP addresses, and STP. These protocols have been properly configured and secured on each device. This report will discuss the background, problems, processes, and results of this topology, its configurations, and the attacks in detail.

Research Sponsor

Nadhem Ebrahim

First Reader

Stanley Smith

Second Reader

Mahmood Safaei

Honors Faculty Advisor

Janet Kropff

Proprietary and/or Confidential Information

No

Recommended Citation

Shaheen, Seth, "Comprehensive Network Redundancy Implementation and Cybersecurity Hardening Project: Ensuring Resilience and Defending Against DHCP Starvation, STP Man-in-the-Middle, and Brute Force Attacks" (2024). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1794.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1794