ptnetinspector: A Practical IPv6 Scanner for Network Reconnaissance

Abstract

The rapid expansion of IPv6 has introduced new challenges in network reconnaissance and vulnerability assessment. In this paper, we present ptnetinspector, a dedicated IPv6 scanner for local environments. While existing IPv6 tools rely on traditional methods that often miss active nodes or specific address types, ptnetinspector employs modern scanning strategies to uncover more IPv6 addresses (including SLAAC, DHCPv6, and manual assignments) and accurately map node roles. Our evaluation shows that ptnetinspector not only discovers additional active addresses and hosts but also identifies vulnerabilities unique to IPv6 protocol implementations, providing a robust foundation for precise network reconnaissance and proactive security in modern IPv6 environments.