analyzing-network-traffic-for-incidents

name	analyzing-network-traffic-for-incidents
description	Use when analyzes network traffic captures and flow data to identify adversary activity during security incidents, including command-and-control communications, lateral movement, data exfiltration, and exploitation attempts. Uses Wireshark, Zeek, and NetFlow analysis techniques. Activates for requests involving network traffic analysis, packet capture investigation, PCAP analysis, network forensics, C2 traffic detection, or exfiltration detection. '.
domain	cybersecurity
tags	["network-forensics","PCAP-analysis","Wireshark","Zeek","traffic-analysis"]
subdomain	incident-response
mitre_attack	["T1071","T1095","T1573","T1572"]
version	1.0.0
author	oyi77
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["RS.MA-01","RS.MA-02","RS.AN-03","RC.RP-01"]

Analyzing Network Traffic For Incidents

Overview

Cybersecurity skill for analyzing network traffic for incidents. Follows industry best practices and security standards.

When to Use

Trigger phrases:

• "analyzing network traffic for incidents"

• "Analyzes network traffic captures and flow data to identify adversary activity d"

• SIEM alerts on anomalous network traffic patterns requiring deeper investigation

• C2 beaconing is suspected and needs confirmation through packet-level analysis

• Data exfiltration volume or destination must be quantified from network evidence

• Lateral movement between systems needs to be traced through network connections

• An IDS/IPS alert requires packet-level validation to confirm or dismiss

Do not use for host-based forensic analysis (process execution, file system artifacts); use endpoint forensics tools instead.

When NOT to Use

• When you lack proper authorization for testing
• For production systems without change management
• When the task requires legal or compliance expertise beyond technical scope

Prerequisites

• Full packet capture (PCAP) infrastructure or on-demand capture capability (network tap, SPAN port)
• Wireshark installed on the analysis workstation with appropriate display filters knowledge
• Zeek (formerly Bro) deployed for network metadata generation (conn.log, dns.log, http.log, ssl.log)
• NetFlow/IPFIX collection from network devices for traffic flow analysis
• Network architecture diagram showing VLAN layout, firewall placement, and monitoring points
• Threat intelligence feeds for correlating observed network indicators

Workflow

# Example: IOC detection
import re

IOC_PATTERNS = {
    "ip": r"\b(?:\d{1,3}\.){3}\d{1,3}\b",
    "domain": r"\b[a-z0-9-]+\.[a-z]{2,}\b",
    "hash_md5": r"\b[a-f0-9]{32}\b",
    "hash_sha256": r"\b[a-f0-9]{64}\b",
}

def extract_iocs() -> :
     {k: re.findall(v, text)  k, v  IOC_PATTERNS.items()}