How IP-Based Attacks Target Your Network

IP-based attacks remain one of the most effective ways for cybercriminals to map, manipulate, and infiltrate networks. They target the foundational layer of digital communication, the Internet Protocol, exploiting weaknesses that often go unnoticed beneath higher-level security systems.

Spoofed IP addresses can impersonate trusted devices. Hijacked sessions can redirect traffic without detection. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks overwhelm networks using thousands of fake IPs. As connectivity expands across remote access, IoT devices, and cloud systems, the risks grow with it.

Even with a reliable cloud infrastructure management service in place, IP-layer vulnerabilities can expose systems to serious breaches. Securing data packets, authenticating traffic sources, and monitoring for anomalies are essential steps toward protecting the network from its core. Understanding how IP-based attacks operate is key to building truly resilient infrastructure.

What Are IP-Based Attacks?

IP-based attacks exploit weaknesses in the Internet Protocol, the core system that allows devices to locate and communicate with one another across networks. Unlike application-layer attacks that target software or user interfaces, these attacks operate at the network layer, often bypassing traditional defenses like firewalls or endpoint protection.

At their core, IP-based attacks involve manipulating how data packets are sent, received, or routed. Because IP addresses are essential for identifying devices and directing traffic, attackers can take advantage of that trust. By forging, intercepting, or overwhelming IP communication, they gain unauthorized access or disrupt normal operations without needing to directly compromise applications or users.

As LaSoft's CTO Vasyl Varkholyak states, these attacks are particularly dangerous because they are often stealthy, protocol-compliant, and difficult to trace. “In many cases, they serve as a starting point for deeper intrusions—reconnaissance, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration,” he notes.

Common types include spoofing, hijacking, scanning, and DDoS, each using the IP layer in a different way to achieve control, disruption, or deception.

The Most Common IP-Based Threats

IP-based attacks come in many forms, each exploiting a different aspect of how networks identify and communicate with devices. Here are the most common and damaging types:

1. IP Spoofing

Attackers forge the source IP address in a packet header to make it appear as if it’s coming from a trusted source. This tactic is often used to bypass access controls, impersonate legitimate systems, or serve as a foundation for larger attacks like DDoS or man-in-the-middle exploits.

2. DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) Attacks

DDoS attacks flood a target server or network with massive amounts of traffic, often using spoofed IPs to conceal the origin. These attacks can overwhelm systems, disrupt operations, and even affect service availability at scale.

3. IP Scanning and Network Reconnaissance

Before launching a targeted attack, adversaries often use tools to scan IP ranges, open ports, and device responses. These scans help attackers map the network, find vulnerabilities, and identify misconfigured or outdated systems.

4. IP Hijacking

This technique involves rerouting traffic meant for a legitimate IP address to a malicious server. It can be done by manipulating routing tables or exploiting vulnerabilities in Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). The goal is often to intercept data, impersonate services, or redirect users to fake interfaces.

5. Session Hijacking

In unsecured environments, attackers can intercept session tokens or sequence numbers tied to specific IP connections, allowing them to take over active sessions, especially over public or poorly encrypted networks.

Each of these threats highlights how deeply network security depends on securing the IP layer, not just guarding endpoints or applications.

Why Traditional Defenses Often Fall Short

Many organizations rely on conventional security measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, VPNs, assuming these will protect against most network threats. However, IP-based attacks often slip through the cracks because they exploit the very mechanisms those defenses depend on.

1. Firewalls Don’t Inspect Origins Deeply Enough

Firewalls typically allow or block traffic based on IP addresses and ports, but spoofed IPs can easily mimic trusted sources. Without additional validation, a firewall may unknowingly permit malicious packets.

2. NAT and Basic Routing Can Be Exploited

Network Address Translation (NAT) helps obscure internal IPs, but it doesn’t stop attackers from flooding external interfaces or redirecting traffic using hijacked routes. Misconfigured routers or weak ACLs (access control lists) can become entry points.

3. Encryption Doesn’t Protect the IP Layer

While VPNs and TLS encrypt payloads, IP headers are still visible and vulnerable. Attackers can observe metadata, scan open ports, or exploit unencrypted session setups, especially in mixed or legacy environments.

4. Endpoint Protection Isn’t Network-Aware

Antivirus or EDR solutions monitor what’s happening on the device, not how it’s interacting with the network. If an IP-based attack doesn’t leave a file or process footprint, it may go completely unnoticed.

5. Misconfigured or Outdated Infrastructure

Older devices or poorly maintained systems may lack support for newer IP security features like IPSec. Attackers often probe for exactly these kinds of soft spots in enterprise networks.

IP-layer threats require solutions that go beyond surface-level inspection. Without visibility and control at this foundational level, even a well-protected system can be quietly compromised or disrupted.

How to Secure Your Network from IP-Level Attacks

Defending against IP-based threats requires more than perimeter defenses. It involves securing the network at its core by validating what traffic is allowed, who’s sending it, and whether its behavior aligns with expected patterns. Here are some practical strategies:

1. Use IPSec for Authenticity and Encryption

IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a suite of protocols designed to secure IP communications by authenticating and encrypting each packet. It’s especially effective in site-to-site VPNs, internal corporate traffic, and securing cloud infrastructure traffic. When implemented properly, IPSec ensures that packets aren’t just encrypted; they’re also verifiably from who they claim to be.

2. Monitor and Limit Traffic Behavior

Rate limiting and anomaly detection are crucial for identifying IP-based abuse. Unusual traffic volumes, port scans, or traffic spikes from unknown sources should immediately trigger alerts. Behavioral baselines can help detect subtle reconnaissance or spoofing attempts before they escalate.

3. Implement Network Segmentation

Divide your network into isolated segments using VLANs or subnetting. This limits lateral movement even if an IP-based intrusion occurs. Critical systems should be placed in protected zones with strict access controls.

4. Maintain Accurate IP Address Management (IPAM)

Track and control how IPs are assigned and used across the network. Dynamic addressing (via DHCP) should be monitored for unusual changes, while static assignments for servers and critical devices should be well-documented and restricted.

5. Use Reverse Path Filtering and BCP 38

Reverse path filtering helps verify that a packet’s source IP is reachable via the same interface it arrived on, a simple but effective way to block spoofed traffic. Implementing Best Current Practice 38 (BCP 38) also helps prevent your network from being used as a source of spoofed packets.

6. Integrate with Threat Intelligence Sources

Leverage IP reputation databases and real-time feeds to block known malicious IPs before they reach your network. Combine these with geofencing or contextual rules to further tighten access based on location, device type, or time of day.

IP security isn’t just a technical measure; it’s part of your overall security posture. The goal is to ensure every packet has a right to be there and every route is accountable.

Special Considerations

IP-based threats don’t affect all environments equally. Some systems, especially those that are distributed, cloud-connected, or lightly monitored, are more vulnerable than others. Understanding where these risks are magnified helps prioritize defenses more effectively.

• Remote Work and BYOD Environments: With employees connecting from home networks, cafés, and personal devices, enforcing IP-level security becomes more challenging. Unsecured routers, outdated firmware, or shared Wi-Fi expose internal systems to external probing. Using network-level VPNs and implementing strong authentication protocols is essential in these settings.
• IoT and Embedded Devices: Many IoT devices rely on static IP addresses, limited firmware, and weak security configurations. Because they often operate outside traditional security perimeters, they’re prime targets for IP scanning, spoofing, and botnet recruitment. Network segmentation and strict access rules are critical here.
• Cloud Infrastructure and Hybrid Networks: Cloud systems introduce dynamic IP assignment, ephemeral workloads, and complex routing. Without consistent monitoring, it’s easy to lose visibility into IP-based traffic patterns. Even when a cloud infrastructure management service is in place, IP layer security must be actively maintained through access control lists, encrypted tunneling, and audit logging.
• Transitioning to IPv6: IPv6 expands the address space dramatically but it also complicates filtering, scanning detection, and traffic classification. Attackers may exploit misconfigured IPv6 implementations or use the new address range to hide malicious behavior. Dual-stack environments (IPv4 and IPv6) require equally strong policies on both sides.

Each of these contexts calls for nuanced controls. IP security isn’t one-size-fits-all; it needs to be tailored to the shape, scale, and behavior of your network.

Featured Image by Freepik.