Evaluation of Future Perspectives on Snort and Wireshark as Tools and Techniques for Intrusion Detection System
Sudhanshu Sekhar Tripathy, Bichitrananda Behera · SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025
The increasing reliance on inter-organizational information exchange has raised significant concerns about the security of data and network infrastructures. Network monitoring plays a crucial role in mitigating these concerns, with tools like Wireshark and Snort forming the backbone of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS). Initially developed as a packet inspection application, Wireshark is widely regarded for its user-friendly interface and intuitive packet-enhancement features, making it effective for classifying various types of network traffic. This research explores the practical application of Wireshark for network investigation, evaluating its role in conjunction with Snort to enhance IDS capabilities. The study examines potential improvements in these tools for heightened network security and their adaptability to emerging cyber threats. An experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of intrusion detection through real-time packet analysis, demonstrating the reliability of intrusive packet authentication within network environments. Wireshark was employed for real-time traffic inspection, capturing and analyzing packets, while Snort was used as the primary tool for detecting intrusions. The integration of Syslog and Snort facilitates the exchange of critical intrusion related data, including packet counts, analysis of IPv4 packet conversations, and expert data on suspicious traffic. This study also focuses on the analysis of RSA-encrypted traffic and the evaluation of Local Area Networks (LAN) for signs of intrusion. Further, Wireshark's capabilities in monitoring and analyzing network activity were used to inspect TCP flags, generate I/O graphs for transmitted packet data, and produce TCP stream flow graphs for detecting intrusions. Additionally, the study includes TLS handshake analysis to identify abnormal or malicious network behavior. The use of ping requests from the attacker’s IP address to the victim’s IP address is highlighted as a method for detecting ongoing malicious activity. Through packet analysis, network traffic is classified as either malformed or well-formed, aiding in the identification of security breaches. Wireshark's in-depth packet inspection enables the detection of unauthorized access from both secure and insecure devices. This research not only explores Wireshark's utility in network intrusion detection but also evaluates emerging trends and challenges associated with IDS technologies. The findings contribute valuable insights for advancing future IDS research, particularly in adapting to the evolving landscape of network security threats. This technical evaluation highlights the importance of continuous development in tools like Wireshark and Snort to keep pace with the dynamic nature of cyberattacks, ensuring robust defense mechanisms for secure data transmission and network integrity.