cyber-security-resources/honeypots_honeynets/cloud_honeynet.md

# Building a Honeynet in the Cloud: A Step-by-Step Guide

## Introduction

A honeynet is a network of virtual machines that simulates a network environment to attract and trap attackers. These honeynets are designed to be vulnerable to various types of attacks, providing cybersecurity professionals with valuable insights into attack vectors, techniques, and behaviors. Cloud platforms offer a scalable and cost-effective way to deploy honeynets. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a honeynet in the cloud.

## Prerequisites

- Cloud provider account (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.)
- Basic understanding of cloud services and networking
- Familiarity with virtual machines and containers

## Step 1: Planning the Honeynet Architecture

Before deploying the honeynet, plan out its architecture. Decide on the number of honeypots you want to deploy, the services they will run, and how they will be networked together. Also, consider implementing a logging and monitoring system to capture data for analysis.

## Step 2: Setting Up the Virtual Network

Create a virtual network in your cloud provider's console. This network will host all your honeypots. Make sure to isolate this network from your production environment to prevent any potential risks.

### Example: AWS VPC Setup

1. Go to the AWS Management Console.
2. Navigate to "VPC" and create a new VPC.
3. Configure the IP range and other settings.
4. Create subnets within the VPC.

## Step 3: Deploying Honeypots

Deploy virtual machines within the virtual network to act as your honeypots. These VMs should run various services that you want to expose to potential attackers.

### Example: AWS EC2 Setup

1. Navigate to "EC2" in the AWS Management Console.
2. Click on "Launch Instance."
3. Choose an AMI (Amazon Machine Image) that you want to use for your honeypot.
4. Configure the instance settings and make sure to deploy it within the VPC created earlier.
5. Launch the instance.

## Step 4: Configuring Services

Install and configure the services you want to expose on each honeypot. These could be web servers, database servers, or any other services that you want to monitor.

## Step 5: Implement Logging and Monitoring

Implement a logging and monitoring solution to capture all the activities happening within your honeynet. Cloud providers often offer native solutions for this, such as AWS CloudWatch or Azure Monitor.

## Step 6: Implement Alerting

Set up alerts to notify you of any unusual activities. This can be done through your monitoring solution or via third-party tools.

## Step 7: Data Analysis

Regularly analyze the data captured by your honeynet. Look for patterns, identify new attack vectors, and update your cybersecurity strategies accordingly.

## Step 8: Maintenance

Keep your honeynet updated with the latest vulnerabilities and services to make it an attractive target for attackers. Also, regularly review and update your monitoring and alerting configurations.


## Deploying T-Pot Honeypot in AWS using Terraform

T-Pot is a well-known honeypot platform that combines various honeypot daemons and data collection tools to capture attack data. Deploying T-Pot in AWS using Terraform allows you to automate the provisioning and management of your honeypot infrastructure. Below is a simple Terraform script to deploy a T-Pot honeypot in AWS, followed by an explanation of each section.

## Terraform Script

Create a file named `tpot-deploy.tf` and paste the following code:

```hcl
provider "aws" {
  region = "us-west-2"
}

resource "aws_vpc" "tpot_vpc" {
  cidr_block = "10.0.0.0/16"
  tags = {
    Name = "tpot-vpc"
  }
}

resource "aws_subnet" "tpot_subnet" {
  vpc_id     = aws_vpc.tpot_vpc.id
  cidr_block = "10.0.1.0/24"
  tags = {
    Name = "tpot-subnet"
  }
}

resource "aws_security_group" "tpot_sg" {
  name        = "tpot-sg"
  description = "T-Pot Security Group"
  vpc_id      = aws_vpc.tpot_vpc.id

  ingress {
    from_port   = 0
    to_port     = 65535
    protocol    = "tcp"
    cidr_blocks = ["0.0.0.0/0"]
  }
}

resource "aws_instance" "tpot_instance" {
  ami           = "ami-0c55b159cbfafe1f0" # Replace with the AMI ID for T-Pot
  instance_type = "t2.medium"
  subnet_id     = aws_subnet.tpot_subnet.id
  security_groups = [aws_security_group.tpot_sg.name]

  tags = {
    Name = "T-Pot-Honeypot"
  }
}
```

## Explanation

### Provider Configuration

```hcl
provider "aws" {
  region = "us-west-2"
}
```

This section specifies that the AWS provider will be used and sets the AWS region to `us-west-2`.

### VPC Configuration

```hcl
resource "aws_vpc" "tpot_vpc" {
  cidr_block = "10.0.0.0/16"
  tags = {
    Name = "tpot-vpc"
  }
}
```

This block creates a new VPC with a CIDR block of `10.0.0.0/16`.

### Subnet Configuration

```hcl
resource "aws_subnet" "tpot_subnet" {
  vpc_id     = aws_vpc.tpot_vpc.id
  cidr_block = "10.0.1.0/24"
  tags = {
    Name = "tpot-subnet"
  }
}
```

This block creates a subnet within the VPC and assigns it a CIDR block of `10.0.1.0/24`.

### Security Group Configuration

```hcl
resource "aws_security_group" "tpot_sg" {
  name        = "tpot-sg"
  description = "T-Pot Security Group"
  vpc_id      = aws_vpc.tpot_vpc.id

  ingress {
    from_port   = 0
    to_port     = 65535
    protocol    = "tcp"
    cidr_blocks = ["0.0.0.0/0"]
  }
}
```

This block creates a security group that allows all incoming TCP traffic. Note that this is a very permissive configuration and should be adjusted according to your specific needs.

### EC2 Instance Configuration

```hcl
resource "aws_instance" "tpot_instance" {
  ami           = "ami-0c55b159cbfafe1f0" # Replace with the AMI ID for T-Pot
  instance_type = "t2.medium"
  subnet_id     = aws_subnet.tpot_subnet.id
  security_groups = [aws_security_group.tpot_sg.name]

  tags = {
    Name = "T-Pot-Honeypot"
  }
}
```

This block creates an EC2 instance using a specified AMI ID (replace with the actual T-Pot AMI ID) and `t2.medium` instance type. The instance is launched within the previously created subnet and associated with the security group.

## Deployment Steps

1. Install Terraform if you haven't already.
2. Run `terraform init` to initialize the Terraform directory.
3. Run `terraform apply` to apply the Terraform configuration. Confirm the action when prompted.

After running these commands, Terraform will provision the T-Pot honeypot in AWS according to the configuration.

**Note**: Make sure you have the AWS CLI configured with the necessary permissions to create these resources. Also, replace the AMI ID with the actual T-Pot AMI ID that you intend to use.