ICMP IP 'ID' Field Error Message Probe
Attack Pattern ID: 332 (Detailed Attack Pattern)Typical Severity: LowStatus: Draft
+ Description

Summary

An attacker sends a UDP datagram having an assigned value to its internet identification field (ID) to a closed port on a target to observe the manner in which this bit is echoed back in the ICMP error message. The internet identification field (ID) is typically utilized for reassembling a fragmented packet. RFC791 and RFC815 discusses about IP datagrams, fragmentation and reassembly. Some operating systems or router firmware reverse the bit order of the ID field when echoing the IP Header portion of the original datagram within the ICMP error message. There are 3 behaviors that can be used to distinguish remote operating systems or firmware.

1.The IP ID field is echoed back identically to the bit order of the ID field in the original IP header.

2.The IP ID field is echoed back, but the byte order has been reversed.

2.The IP ID field contains an incorrect or unexpected value.

Different operating systems will respond by setting the IP ID field differently within error messaging. This allows the attacker to construct a fingerprint of specific OS behaviors.

+ Target Attack Surface

Target Attack Surface Description

Targeted OSI Layers: Network Layer

Target Attack Surface Localities

Server-side

Target Attack Surface Types: Host

Target Functional Services

Target Functional Service 1: None
Protocol 1: ICMP
Protocol Header 1
Protocol RFCProtocol Field NameProtocol Field DescriptionProtocol Operation CodeProtocol Data
RFC 792
Type
The ICMP Type Field determines the function of the ICMP query. A Type 8 message directs the target to reply to the sender of the echo request message with an echo reply message. In forming an echo reply the source and destination addresses are switched, the Type field is set to '0', any data contained in the data portion of the echo request is sent "echoed" back to the host, and the checksum is recalculated.
8
ICMP echo requests may contain arbitrary data as a payload. When the ICMP Type is 8 (echo request), the data received in the echo message must be returned in the echo reply message.
Related Protocol: Internet Protocol
Relationship Type
Uses Protocol
+ Attack Prerequisites

The ability to send a UDP datagram to a closed port and recieve an ICMP Error Message Type 3, "Port Unreachable.

+ Related Attack Patterns
NatureTypeIDNameDescriptionView(s) this relationship pertains toView\(s\)
ChildOfAttack PatternAttack Pattern316ICMP Fingerprinting Probes 
Mechanism of Attack (primary)1000
+ References
Stuart McClure, Joel Scambray, George Kurtz. "Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions". 6th Edition. McGraw Hill, ISBN: 978-0-07-161374-3. 2009.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). "RFC792 - Internet Control Messaging Protocol". 1981. <http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc792.html>.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). "RFC1122 - Requirements for Internet Hosts - Communication Layers". 1981. <http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1122.html>.
Ofir Arkin, et.al. "A Remote Active OS Fingerprinting Tool using ICMP". 2008. <http://ofirarkin.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/login.pdf>.
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