Incident Response & PCAP Traffic Analysis
Scope: Packet Capture Analysis, Wireshark Deep Inspection, Threat Containment, & Forensic Reconstruction
Incident Overview
Executed deep packet inspection (DPI) and network forensic investigation using Wireshark and command-line traffic tools to isolate security breaches and unauthorized data exfiltration. This case study details the structured incident response cycle: capturing raw PCAP files, isolating abnormal protocol behaviors, reconstructing unencrypted payload streams, mapping threat actors, and deploying host containment rules.
Network Forensic PCAP Inspection
Deep Packet Inspection & Protocol Stream Reconstruction
Core Forensic & Incident Response Pillars
Advanced Display & Capture Filtering
Applied targeted Wireshark display filters to isolate anomalous TCP handshake behaviors, high-frequency DNS query bursts, and unauthorized outbound connections across non-standard port designations.
TCP Stream Follow & Payload Extraction
Reconstructed full TCP and HTTP conversation streams to extract plain-text credentials, inspect malformed header signatures, and identify unencrypted exfiltration payloads.
Beaconing & C2 Infrastructure Mapping
Analyzed recurring packet delta times to detect automated malware beaconing intervals, uncovering hidden Command and Control (C2) channels operating over masked HTTPS protocols.
Rapid Isolation & Perimeter Hardening
Formulated tactical incident response reports to isolate affected endpoints instantly, updated gateway firewall blacklists, and updated intrusion detection system (IDS) rules.