Metasploit Updated to Address Risks Within IPv6

Rapid7 released version 4.2 of the Metasploit Framework today, which includes tools needed to assess risk on networks that are deploying or have already deployed IPv6. In addition, the new version offers an additional 54 exploits, 66 auxiliary modules, 43 post-exploitation modules, and 18 payloads.

Companies typically have a tight grip on the IPv4 side of the network, Rapid7 explained in a statement, but less so on IPv6 interfaces, which can introduce dangerous misconfigurations, such as a firewall that has filters set up for IPv4 traffic but accepts all IPv6 traffic. Some defense mechanisms, such as older IPS systems, may even be completely blind to IPv6 traffic.

“The number of IPv6-enabled systems has quadrupled over the last three years, broadening the attack surface for cyber attackers, with over 10% of the world’s top web sites now offering IPv6 services,” said HD Moore, CSO of Boston-based Rapid7 and chief architect of the Metasploit Project.

“IPv6 is like a parallel universe for intruders. Since most companies focus on the IPv4 side of their networks, security assessments must audit IPv6-enabled internal and external hosts to ensure they don’t lead to a breach. In one case, we audited an organization that had blocked zone transfers on their DNS server for IPv4, but left this common flaw wide open on IPv6.”

On top of scanning IPv6 networks, the latest version of Metasploit will also audit passwords within virtual environments. Rapid7’s NeXpose has the ability to scan and discover virtual assets, and the addition of auditing within Metasploit marks the second layer of their virtualization security plans.

Those within IT know that Virtual Machines can run anything from business-critical servers to development and testing platforms. Thus, with the new auditing process, Metasploit will run brute force attacks against VMware vSphere Web Services. During its discovery scan, Metasploit automatically identifies whether a system is a virtual guest or host. Metasploit can also now use compromised vmauthd credentials to collect screenshots of guest virtual machines.

“If an attacker finds a weak password on your VMware vSphere Web Service, they may as well have the keys to your physical data center,” said Moore.

Metasploit 4.2 is available now, and the new features are included in both the open source and the commercial versions.