Network Security and Vulnerability Exploitation

Network Security and Vulnerability Exploitation is a critical discipline focused on protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of computer networks and their data, while also understanding and utilizing the methods attackers use to compromise them. This field involves implementing defensive measures like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption, as well as engaging in the offensive practice of identifying, assessing, and exploiting security weaknesses in network protocols, services, and configurations. By simulating real-world attacks through techniques like penetration testing, security professionals can proactively discover and remediate vulnerabilities, thereby strengthening the network's defenses against malicious actors.

1. Foundations of Network Security
   1. Core Security Principles
      1. Confidentiality
         1. Data Classification
         2. Information Sensitivity Levels
         3. Data Encryption at Rest
         4. Data Encryption in Transit
         5. Access Controls
            1. Discretionary Access Control
            2. Mandatory Access Control
            3. Role-Based Access Control
         6. Data Masking Techniques
         7. Data Loss Prevention
      2. Integrity
         1. Data Integrity Concepts
         2. Hashing Algorithms
            1. MD5
            2. SHA Family
            3. HMAC
         3. Digital Signatures
         4. Checksums and CRCs
         5. Data Validation Techniques
         6. Message Authentication Codes
      3. Availability
         1. High Availability Concepts
         2. Redundancy Strategies
         3. Failover Mechanisms
         4. Load Balancing
         5. Denial of Service Protection
         6. Backup Strategies
         7. Disaster Recovery Planning
         8. Business Continuity
      4. Non-repudiation
         1. Digital Signatures
         2. Audit Trails
         3. Logging Requirements
         4. Time Stamping
         5. Certificate Authorities
      5. Authentication
         1. Authentication Factors
            1. Something You Know
            2. Something You Have
            3. Something You Are
         2. Password-based Authentication
            1. Password Policies
            2. Password Storage
            3. Password Attacks
         3. Multi-factor Authentication
            1. Hardware Tokens
            2. Software Tokens
            3. SMS-based Authentication
         4. Biometric Authentication
            1. Fingerprint Recognition
            2. Facial Recognition
            3. Iris Scanning
         5. Certificate-based Authentication
         6. Single Sign-On
      6. Authorization
         1. Authorization Models
         2. Role-Based Access Control
         3. Attribute-Based Access Control
         4. Access Control Lists
         5. Principle of Least Privilege
         6. Separation of Duties
   2. Risk Management Fundamentals
      1. Risk Assessment Methodologies
      2. Threat Modeling
      3. Vulnerability Management
      4. Risk Mitigation Strategies
      5. Compliance Frameworks
         1. ISO 27001
         2. NIST Cybersecurity Framework
         3. PCI DSS
         4. HIPAA
   3. Networking Fundamentals for Security
      1. Network Architecture Concepts
         1. Client-Server Model
         2. Peer-to-Peer Networks
         3. Network Topologies
      2. The OSI Model
         1. Physical Layer Security
         2. Data Link Layer Security
         3. Network Layer Security
         4. Transport Layer Security
         5. Session Layer Security
         6. Presentation Layer Security
         7. Application Layer Security
      3. The TCP/IP Model
         1. Network Interface Layer
         2. Internet Layer
         3. Transport Layer
         4. Application Layer
      4. IP Addressing and Subnetting
         1. IPv4 Addressing
            1. Address Classes
            2. Subnet Masks
            3. CIDR Notation
            4. Private Address Ranges
            5. NAT and PAT
         2. IPv6 Addressing
            1. Address Structure
            2. Address Types
            3. Stateless Address Autoconfiguration
            4. IPv6 Security Features
      5. Core Network Protocols
         1. TCP Protocol
            1. Connection Establishment
            2. Data Transfer
            3. Connection Termination
            4. TCP Flags
            5. Sequence Numbers
         2. UDP Protocol
            1. Connectionless Communication
            2. UDP Header Structure
            3. Use Cases
         3. ICMP Protocol
            1. Error Reporting
            2. Network Diagnostics
            3. ICMP Message Types
      6. Routing Protocols
         1. Static Routing
         2. Dynamic Routing
            1. RIP
            2. OSPF
            3. BGP
         3. Routing Security
      7. Switching Concepts
         1. MAC Address Tables
         2. VLAN Configuration
         3. Spanning Tree Protocol
         4. Switch Security Features
      8. Common Application Protocols
         1. HTTP and HTTPS
            1. HTTP Methods
            2. Status Codes
            3. Headers
            4. SSL/TLS Implementation
         2. DNS Protocol
            1. Name Resolution Process
            2. DNS Record Types
            3. DNS Security Extensions
         3. Email Protocols
            1. SMTP
            2. POP3
            3. IMAP
         4. File Transfer Protocols
            1. FTP
            2. SFTP
            3. FTPS
         5. Remote Access Protocols
            1. SSH
            2. Telnet
            3. RDP
   4. Common Threat Actors and Attack Vectors
      1. Threat Actor Categories
         1. Script Kiddies
         2. Hacktivists
         3. Cybercriminals
         4. Nation-State Actors
         5. Insider Threats
      2. Attack Motivations
         1. Financial Gain
         2. Political Objectives
         3. Espionage
         4. Disruption
         5. Personal Vendetta
      3. Attack Vectors
         1. Network-based Attacks
         2. Web-based Attacks
         3. Email-based Attacks
         4. Physical Attacks
         5. Social Engineering
      4. Advanced Persistent Threats
         1. APT Characteristics
         2. APT Lifecycle
         3. Attribution Challenges