this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2024

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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 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by RestrictedAccount to c/nostupidquestions

102 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

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[–] [email protected] 183 points 2 months ago

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

[–] 9point6 85 points 2 months ago (3 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?

[–] RestrictedAccount 29 points 2 months ago (13 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.

[–] 9point6 49 points 2 months 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?

[–] RestrictedAccount 32 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] 9point6 36 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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

[–] thermal_shock 22 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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.

[–] Agent641 19 points 2 months 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.

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[–] polygon6121 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That is weird. Running development environments maybe? Docker with windows iis?

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[–] thesystemisdown 19 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You can enable IIS on almost any windows flavor.

https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-10/install-and-setup-a-website-in-iis-on-windows-10/

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[–] [email protected] 74 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (5 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.

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[–] rtxn 70 points 2 months ago

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

[–] Seasm0ke 63 points 2 months 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

[–] spearz 35 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Nobody wants windows on a vibrating dildo

[–] Seasm0ke 27 points 2 months ago

I mean, Windows already fucks us metaphorically

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Maybe I want my vibrating dildo to take an hour to load and come with spyware

[–] DokPsy 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Hey, I'm not normally one to judge but it seems like a bad idea to call yourself spyware. Either you're going to blow your cover or it's just negative self talk.

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[–] Agent641 41 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] RestrictedAccount 22 points 2 months 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.

[–] dingdongmetacarples 35 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

The mac address can also tell you the hardware vendor.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 months ago (6 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] 19 points 2 months 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.

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months 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.

[–] RestrictedAccount 13 points 2 months ago

Thanks. This helps. My work computer is way newer than that. It makes me think it could be networking hardware. I have some kit that’s about that old.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] RestrictedAccount 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Thanks. It is neither the Ethernet nor the Wi-Fi on my windows laptop.,

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Don't just turn your devices off when testing - - unplug them. An off computer can still respond to network requests.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago

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

[–] Kelly 19 points 2 months ago (2 children)

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] 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah and giving a potential attacker your account details while trying to log on?

[–] Kelly 11 points 2 months ago

Eyeballing the login screen may give some insight, you're right that its probably unwise to try real creds if you don't recognize the server.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago (1 children)

How insanely small was the transfer? Like 1 bit?

[–] RestrictedAccount 7 points 2 months ago

9 packets

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months 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.

[–] RestrictedAccount 10 points 2 months ago

Sounds like purchasing got a deal on surplus spook gear.

[–] peopleproblems 15 points 2 months 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.

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[–] SlothMama 15 points 2 months 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.

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[–] TunaCowboy 14 points 2 months ago (4 children)

nmap -A -T4 -p- <IP>

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[–] Chocrates 13 points 2 months ago (2 children)

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] 8 points 2 months ago

Is the traffic encrypted?

If it is, look at the certificate. Which hostname is it for primarily? Which SAN (Subject Alternative Name - basically a list of all other hostnames the certificate is valid for) are set, if any? Which Certificate Authority issued the certificate or is it self signed?

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago

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

[–] Crashumbc 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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.