### Advanced Cybersecurity Operations Lab: Vulnerability Management and Threat Detection with Splunk

#### 1. Objective:
Develop a comprehensive cybersecurity testing and monitoring lab that integrates multiple security tools and platforms to simulate real-world scenarios. This environment will cover the entire security lifecycle, including vulnerability assessment, attack simulation, threat detection, and system hardening. The project aims to provide insights into identifying, exploiting, detecting, and mitigating security vulnerabilities in a controlled lab environment.

#### 2. Components:

- Windows VM:
- Role: Acts as the primary target for vulnerability assessments and attack simulations.
- Tasks: Install various services (e.g., web server, database) to create a realistic attack surface.

- Splunk:
- Role: Centralized log management and SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) platform.
- Tasks: Collect, analyze, and visualize security events from all components. Create custom dashboards and alerts for real-time monitoring.

- Metasploit Framework:
- Role: Attack simulation tool to exploit identified vulnerabilities.
- Tasks: Execute exploits against the Windows VM and other targets to simulate real-world attacks.

- Tenable Nessus:
- Role: Vulnerability assessment tool to identify security gaps.
- Tasks: Perform comprehensive scans on the Windows VM and other systems, providing detailed reports on vulnerabilities.

- Kali Linux VM:
- Role: Penetration testing platform hosting Metasploit and other tools.
- Tasks: Launch attacks, conduct network reconnaissance, and test security measures.

- Firewall and IDS/IPS:
- Role: Network security devices to analyze and block malicious traffic.
- Tasks: Implement and test the effectiveness of these devices against simulated attacks, while integrating their logs with Splunk for analysis.

#### 3. Setup Process:

- Network Design:
- Goal: Create a secure and segmented network architecture that includes all components.
- Steps:
- Design a network topology with isolated segments for the Windows VM, Kali Linux VM, Nessus scanner, and Splunk server.
- Implement network security measures such as VLANs, firewalls, and IDS/IPS systems.

- Comprehensive Scanning:
- Goal: Identify vulnerabilities within the network using Nessus.
- Steps:
- Run detailed Nessus scans on the Windows VM and other systems.
- Analyze the scan results, focusing on critical vulnerabilities and their potential impact.
- Document each vulnerability, including risk levels and recommended mitigation strategies.

- Simulated Attacks:
- Goal: Exploit identified vulnerabilities using Metasploit to simulate real-world attacks.
- Steps:
- Use Metasploit to exploit vulnerabilities found in the Windows VM.
- Test various attack vectors, such as remote code execution, privilege escalation, and lateral movement.
- Document the attack methods, payloads used, and the impact on the target systems.

- Event Logging and Analysis:
- Goal: Monitor and analyze security events using Splunk.
- Steps:
- Forward logs from the Windows VM, firewall, IDS/IPS, and other components to Splunk.
- Create Splunk dashboards that visualize attack patterns, system responses, and security trends.
- Set up alerts for specific events, such as unauthorized access attempts or detected exploits.

- System Hardening:
- Goal: Mitigate identified vulnerabilities and secure the Windows VM.
- Steps:
- Apply patches, configure security settings, and remove unnecessary services on the Windows VM.
- Reassess the hardened system using Nessus to confirm that vulnerabilities have been mitigated.
- Document the hardening process and the improvements made.

- Reporting and Documentation:
- Goal: Provide detailed documentation of each phase of the project.
- Steps:
- Compile reports on vulnerability assessments, attack simulations, detection strategies, and system hardening.
- Include screenshots, logs, and Splunk dashboards in the documentation.
- Provide a final summary that highlights key findings, challenges, and lessons learned.

#### 4. Advanced Learning Outcomes:

- Comprehensive Security Assessment:
- Gain hands-on experience in performing end-to-end security assessments, from vulnerability detection to exploitation and mitigation.

- Integration of Security Tools:
- Learn how to effectively integrate multiple security tools like Nessus, Metasploit, and Splunk to create a cohesive security monitoring and response environment.

- Incident Response and Mitigation:
- Develop skills in detecting, responding to, and mitigating security incidents using both automated tools and manual analysis.

- System Security Improvement:
- Understand how to apply security best practices to harden systems against known and
emerging threats.

#### 5. Implementation Steps:

1. Initial Setup:
- Hardware/Software Requirements: Ensure adequate resources to run multiple VMs and tools smoothly.
- Software Installation: Set up VMs, Nessus, Splunk, Metasploit, and other necessary tools on designated systems.

2. Network Configuration:
- Network segmentation: Use VLANs to isolate VMs based on their roles.
- Firewall rules: Configure rules to control traffic flow between segments.
- Implement IDS/IPS: Deploy these systems inline or in monitoring mode to inspect traffic.

3. Configuration of Security Tools:
- Splunk:
- Install Splunk on a dedicated VM/server, configure log ingestion from network components, and set up a universal forwarder on VMs.
- Nessus:
- Configure Nessus to conduct regular scans and upload results for analysis.
- Metasploit:
- Set up Metasploit on Kali Linux, ensuring it has network access to target systems.

4. Operational Procedures:
- Vulnerability Scanning: Define a schedule for periodic Nessus scans.
- Simulated Attacks: Regularly conduct tests using Metasploit to assess system defenses and validate security controls.
- Threat Monitoring: Use Splunk analytics to maintain visibility over network events, prioritizing alerts based on severity.

5. Training and Exercises:
- Host workshops to train on each tool’s use, incident response protocols, and security procedures.
- Engage in red team/blue team exercises to simulate attack and defense scenarios.

6. Continuous Improvement:
- Use outcomes from exercises to refine detection, response strategies, and hardening measures.
- Regularly update tools and systems to ensure defenses evolve with threat landscapes.

### Conclusion

This lab setup aims to provide a holistic education in cybersecurity operations, touching on many critical aspects of modern security strategies. Through realistic scenarios and tool integration, participants gain practical knowledge and skills essential for today’s cybersecurity landscape.