this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2024
5 points (100.0% liked)

No Stupid Questions

35668 readers
1181 users here now

No such thing. Ask away!

!nostupidquestions is a community dedicated to being helpful and answering each others' questions on various topics.

The rules for posting and commenting, besides the rules defined here for lemmy.world, are as follows:

Rules (interactive)

Rule 1- All posts must be legitimate questions. All post titles must include a question.

All posts must be legitimate questions, and all post titles must include a question. Questions that are joke or trolling questions, memes, song lyrics as title, etc. are not allowed here. See Rule 6 for all exceptions.

Rule 2- Your question subject cannot be illegal or NSFW material.

Your question subject cannot be illegal or NSFW material. You will be warned first, banned second.

Rule 3- Do not seek mental, medical and professional help here.

Do not seek mental, medical and professional help here. Breaking this rule will not get you or your post removed, but it will put you at risk, and possibly in danger.

Rule 4- No self promotion or upvote-farming of any kind.

That's it.

Rule 5- No baiting or sealioning or promoting an agenda.

Questions which, instead of being of an innocuous nature, are specifically intended (based on reports and in the opinion of our crack moderation team) to bait users into ideological wars on charged political topics will be removed and the authors warned - or banned - depending on severity.

Rule 6- Regarding META posts and joke questions.

Provided it is about the community itself, you may post non-question posts using the [META] tag on your post title.

On fridays, you are allowed to post meme and troll questions, on the condition that it's in text format only, and conforms with our other rules. These posts MUST include the [NSQ Friday] tag in their title.

If you post a serious question on friday and are looking only for legitimate answers, then please include the [Serious] tag on your post. Irrelevant replies will then be removed by moderators.

Rule 7- You can't intentionally annoy, mock, or harass other members.

If you intentionally annoy, mock, harass, or discriminate against any individual member, you will be removed.

Likewise, if you are a member, sympathiser or a resemblant of a movement that is known to largely hate, mock, discriminate against, and/or want to take lives of a group of people, and you were provably vocal about your hate, then you will be banned on sight.

Rule 8- All comments should try to stay relevant to their parent content.

Rule 9- Reposts from other platforms are not allowed.

Let everyone have their own content.

Rule 10- Majority of bots aren't allowed to participate here.

Credits

Our breathtaking icon was bestowed upon us by @Cevilia!

The greatest banner of all time: by @TheOneWithTheHair!

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
5
I found a weird IP address on my network that had transmitted an insanely small amount of data. I put the address in my browser and got this. what the heck am I looking at? (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
85 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

UPDATE 10/4 6:47 EDT

I have been going through all the comments. THANKS!!!!!! I did not know about the techniques listed, so they are extremely helpful. Sorry for the slow update. As I mentioned below, I got behind with this yesterday so work cut into my evening.

I ran a port scan. The first syntax, -p, brought no joy. The nmap software itself suggested changing to -Pn. That brought an interesting response:

nmap -Pn 1-9999

Starting Nmap 7.93 ( https://nmap.org ) at 2024-10-04 11:44 BST

Failed to resolve "1-9999". Nmap scan report for Host is up (0.070s latency). All 1000 scanned ports on 192.168.0.46 are in ignored states. Not shown: 990 filtered tcp ports (no-response), 10 filtered tcp ports (host-unreach) Nmap done: 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 6.03 seconds Just to be absolutely sure, I turned off my work computer (the only windows box on my network) and reran the same syntax with the same results.

As I read this, there is definitely something on my network running windows that is not showing up on the DHCP.

UPDATE 10/6

I am working through all these suggestions. I am sorry for the slow responses, but I have my hands full with family weekend. I will post more next tomorrow. But I did do one thing that has me scratching my head and wondering if this may be a wild goose chase.

I ran the nmap again per below with a completely fictional IP address within my normal range. It gave the exact same results:

nmap -A -T4 -p- -Pn

Starting Nmap 7.93 ( https://nmap.org ) at 2024-10-05 13:36 BST Nmap scan report for

Host is up (0.054s latency).

All 65535 scanned ports on are in ignored states.

Not shown: 65525 filtered tcp ports (no-response), 10 filtered tcp ports (host-unreach)

Service detection performed. Please report any incorrect results at https://nmap.org/submit/ .

Nmap done: 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 182.18 seconds

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Depending on your router, it could have a docker setup with Windows on it. I've seen some strange shit on cheap routers with far too much processing power and storage.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

I will probably have to shut all the devices off and put them back one by one. OMG that will take a long time.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

As everyone else has said this is the out of the box default page that comes with Microsoft IIS web server on windows server.

Though I feel like you'd know if you had a copy of windows server running on your network somewhere—is the IP in your usual network subnet?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (10 children)

The only windows box on my network is my company laptop. It is on a different IP address than that one.

It IS in my normal range, but it is NOT listed on my Router’s DHCP client list.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Have you recently installed visual studio or are doing any .NET development? It could possibly be a containerised version of IIS

If you completely turn off your windows device and try to access the IP from another device does it still resolve?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Great Idea! My windows box is off and I can still see it from my phone.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (2 children)

Hmm

I'd maybe try systematically turning any other devices off you think could potentially have the grunt to run windows server in a container or VM.

Do you have a Mac/Linux machine handy? If you run arp -a in one terminal and ping the unusual IP in another, that should give you a corresponding MAC address for the device. You can then look up the MAC address and see if it gives you any more info about the device running it—it might not but you never know. You can use something like https://dnschecker.org/mac-lookup.php

I guess next you could look at taking that MAC and blocking it in your router control panel and see if anything starts complaining

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I guess next you could look at taking that MAC and blocking it in your router control panel and see if anything starts complaining

I love the "see who screams" method, my coworkers do not. it's usually instant.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

In addition, you might like to do a portscan on that IP address to see if any other ports reaveal something more interesting.

You can run this in cmd prompt, I think, if nmap is available on your windows machine:

nmap -p 1-9999 192.168.1.1

IIS can only run on a windows OS, so it must be a windows physical machine or VM connected to your network.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (9 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

does your router give you the MAC address of the device? You can look it up to see who manufactured it and then narrow down. This could be a device that has a web service running is all you are seeing right now.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

It does not show up on the DHCP table, nor does it reflect pings.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

You can always start looking at how to use WireShark to sniff the packets and learn more about what is coming and going from that system. WireShark can be a daunting tool but if you look at some videos or walk through you should be able to get a handle on how to make it reveal only the one devices network traffic

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I have Wireshark, but haven’t really had a reason to learn it. I mostly just stare at the traffic rolling by the way they do on The Matrix. This is on the list to try.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

How do you know it sent data? Any chance you have packet captures?

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

Don't need the router. If you're on windows or linux, you just ping the ip then enter 'arp -a <ip>' it will show the MAC address for the IP from your machine's arp cache.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (4 children)

If you can, power stuff off and check if that web page is still available. Start with any Windows machines. It could be a virtual machine running inside of something else though.

Edit: here's how to disable that web server https://superuser.com/a/1377078 . I'd do that on any Windows machines as well.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Windows IIS probably from around the time of windows 8 so maybe 2012. Probably running on either windows server 2012 (like exchange, an active directory domain controller, or if you are unlucky sharepoint) or some weirdly configured appliance running windows 8 ish enterprise.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

How insanely small was the transfer? Like 1 bit?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

9 packets

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

You don't have Ethernet over power do you?

Fun story, I live in a townhome, I had so bizarre network issues going on. Not able to stream to TV etc. finally started unplugging shit. Unplugged the router and saw the computer still happily downloading something WTF! Turns out a neighbor also had Ethernet over power and devices were randomly connecting to their network. Crazy ass shit.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

nmap -A -T4 -p- <IP>

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

It's the default page for a Windows Server running IIS web server.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

There was an appliance where the wifi chip was at the end of the power cable, embedded inside the plug. From the outside, you couldn't really tell. It was there so radiation inside the box couldn't affect the wireless signal as much.

I can imagine some genius thinking it's a good idea to run a server from inside a cable or a connected home appliance.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

Sounds like purchasing got a deal on surplus spook gear.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

The default home page for Microsoft IIS, the web server built into Windows Server (and probably some desktop builds too).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Bro, you gotta keep us updated, I'm surprisingly invested in this now.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

I lost my entire morning to this yesterday. I had to work late to catch up. There are some good ideas in here I’m starting on now.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Following, I want to know what god awful iot device this is. Refrigerator? Toaster oven? Vibrating dildo? The suspense is killing me

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (6 children)

Nobody wants windows on a vibrating dildo

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

I mean, Windows already fucks us metaphorically

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (5 children)

Get the MAC address from the ARP table, and look up the OIN, should help you determine if it's virtual or physical, and if physical the type of NIC it's using.

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

So, as others have saId this is just an unconfigured IIS server, which implies it's either a windows machine, or a windows based VM, well or someone put the default IIS files on another server, but that's unlikely.

When you say "weird" IP I'd wonder what you mean by that.

I think since it's probably a windows machine, from another windows machine typing nbtstat -A <ip> should give you the computer name and workgroup or domain they belong to. See if it matches anything you expect on your network.

If not, maybe it's time to change your WPA wifi key.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

Thanks. I ran nbtstat and it came up empty.

Edit: Also, I am big on wired networks. I mostly save WI-FI for smart and mobile devices. There is a lot of stuff on Ethernet that does not need a password.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 weeks ago

Hmm. That would mean it's likely one of the following (well perhaps more options, but these spring to mind)

  • A windows machine that has the network set as a public network, or netbios specifically blocked on LAN.
  • A windows machine that has all the netbios services disabled.
  • Not a windows machine, or a container as others suggested that's running some kind of IIS install
  • Not a windows machine at all but for some weird reason IIS files and a web server setup.

I think you suggested in another comment, that it's not in your DHCP client list but has an IP in your normal range. Which suggests it is setup with a static IP. That is odd.

Some other people suggested it could be a container that is using a real IP rather than the NAT that docker etc usually use. I do know that you can use real IPs in containers, I've done it on my NAS to get a "proper" linux install on top of the NAS lite linux that is provided. But I would have expected that you'd know about that, since it would require someone to actually choose the IP address to use.

If you have managed switches you could find which port on which switch the MAC address (as found by lookuping up the arp record for the IP using arp -a) is on (provided the switch allows access to the forwarding tables). Of course, if they're on Wi-Fi it's only going to lead to the access point they're connecting to.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 weeks ago

It could be a configured one with the default greet page still up.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

Others haven't suggested this yet, but a single device, like your laptop, even with one connection, can have two IPs.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Besides the MAC lookup suggestion, have you tried to simply find hostname in local DNS by reverse IP lookup, maybe that would shed some light.

Not sure if there is anything useful, but in browser just check site source, maybe there is something useful there that could help with identification. Does site have certificate? It might include info that would help with identification. Do the standard browser network trace via dev tools F12, maybe something useful appears there.

In nmap you can attempt to guess OS, try that. Additionally it might be possible to get hostname as well.

And have you checked your router to see if this connection is connected to your Wi-Fi AP or Ethernet to narrow things down? If it is not possible to determine this from router, simply connect your main PC to Ethernet, disable AP in router settings and check if IIS site is still up. If it is not, enable AP again, does it come back early or it takes some time?

Lastly, if it still is a mystery, start powering off devices one by one to find the source. Based on comments it seems you have multiple devices, but I assume it would not take that long?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

Home network or corporate?

Its a windows server, if you are using widows too you can try establishing a RDP connection with Remote Desktop Connection.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

That is IIS, all it means is you are probably talking to a windows server. Is the traffic encrypted? What port is it going to?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

This is where you find that shit is so bloated and pointlessly connected that it's running on a washing machine.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 weeks ago

It's me. I'm your nextdoor neighbour. Sorry!

load more comments
view more: next ›