Toward Network Configuration Randomization for Moving Target Defense

Abstract

This chapter presents a moving target defense architecture called Mutable Networks or MUTE. MUTE enables networks to change their configurations such as IP address and routes randomly and dynamically while preserving the requirements and integrity of network operation. The main goal of MUTE is to hinder the adversary’s capabilities in scanning or discovering network targets, launching DoS attacks and creating botnets structure. This chapter presents the challenges and applications of moving target defense and it also presents a formal approach for creating valid mutation of network configurations.