A method and system for mapping a network domain provides a centralized repository
for network information to support network devices, including an intrusion detection
system. A domain mapping device includes an acquisition engine for acquiring network
information, hypercube storage for storing network information, and a query engine
for responding to queries from network devices for network information. The acquisition
engine acquires network information by active scanning of network devices, passive
scanning of network devices, polling of network devices, or receiving network information
pushed from network devices. The network information includes device type, operating
system, service and vulnerability information. The query engine provides network
information in response to queries from network devices, such as intrusion detection
devices that use the data to detect attacks on the vulnerabilities of the network.