How to Start Active Attacks Projects Using OMNeT++

To start the Active Attack Simulation project in OMNeT++ has been includes their modeling malicious behaviors that actively employ or disrupt the network communications. These attacks various from passive attacks like eavesdropping as they directly modify or interfere by the network. Active attacks has includes the Man-in-the-Middle (MITM), Denial of Service (DoS), packet modification, and routing table poisoning.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to create an Active Attack Simulation using OMNeT++:

Steps to Start Active Attacks Projects Using OMNeT++

1. Understand Active Attacks

• Types of Active Attacks:
  1. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM): Interrupts and alters the legitimate communications.
  2. DoS/DDoS: Overloads the network or service by excessive congestion.
  3. Packet Modification: Variations for the contents of packets in transit.
  4. Routing Attacks: Modifies the routing tables, producing the misrouted packets.
  5. Replay Attacks: Resends the existing seized packets to disrupt the operations.
• Goals:

• • Simulate specific active attack scenarios.
  • Evaluate their impact on network performance.
  • Improve and validate the detection/mitigation mechanisms.

2. Set Up OMNeT++ and INET Framework

• Install OMNeT++: Download and install OMNeT++ from the official website.
• Install INET Framework:
  • INET offers the modules and helps for protocols such as TCP, UDP, IP, and ICMP, as well as wireless communication.

3. Define Project Scope

Step 3.1: Choose the Attack Scenario

• Examples:
  • MITM Attack: Interrupt and alter the communications among two nodes.
  • DoS Attack: Replicate an attacker overwhelming a server for the DoS attack.
  • Packet Injection: Add the spoofed packets into the network.

Step 3.2: Metrics

• Measure:
  • Packet delivery ratio.
  • Network latency and throughput.
  • System performance degradation.

4. Design the Network Topology

State a network topology by legitimate nodes, an attacker, and a router or switch connecting the nodes.

Example .ned File:

network ActiveAttackNetwork {

submodules:

attacker: StandardHost;   // Attacker node

client: StandardHost;     // Legitimate client

server: StandardHost;     // Target server

router: Router;           // Router connecting all nodes

connections allowunconnected:

client.ethg++ <–> EthernetLink <–> router.ethg++;

server.ethg++ <–> EthernetLink <–> router.ethg++;

attacker.ethg++ <–> EthernetLink <–> router.ethg++;

}

}

5. Implement the Active Attack

Step 5.1: MITM Attack

• Interrupt the packets, alter them, and transmit them to the intended destination.

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class ManInTheMiddle : public cSimpleModule {

protected:

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

};

 

Define_Module(ManInTheMiddle);

void ManInTheMiddle::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {

Packet *pkt = check_and_cast<Packet *>(msg);

// Log intercepted packet

EV << “Intercepted packet: ” << pkt->getName() << “\n”;

// Modify packet content (for example, change the payload)

if (pkt->hasData()) {

auto data = pkt->peekData();

auto newData = data->dup();

// Modify data here (e.g., add malicious content)

pkt->removeAllData();

pkt->insertAtFront(newData);

EV << “Modified packet content.\n”;

}

// Forward the modified packet

send(pkt, “out”);

}

Step 5.2: DoS Attack

• Replicate an attacker making excessive congestion to a server.

class DosAttacker : public cSimpleModule {

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

void sendAttackPacket();

};

Define_Module(DosAttacker);

void DosAttacker::initialize() {

// Schedule the first attack packet

scheduleAt(simTime() + uniform(0.1, 0.2), new cMessage(“sendAttack”));

}

void DosAttacker::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {

if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “sendAttack”) == 0) {

sendAttackPacket();

scheduleAt(simTime() + 0.01, msg); // Flood the server with packets

}

}

void DosAttacker::sendAttackPacket() {

auto pkt = new Packet(“AttackPacket”);

pkt->addTag<MacAddressReq>()->setDestAddress(MacAddress::BROADCAST_ADDRESS); // Broadcast attack

send(pkt, “out”);

}

Step 5.3: Routing Attack

• Modify the routing tables or redirect the congestion to unintended destinations.

6. Configure the Simulation

Example .ini File Configuration:

[Config ActiveAttack]

network = ActiveAttackNetwork

# Legitimate client configuration

**.client.numApps = 1

**.client.app[0].typename = “UdpBasicApp”

**.client.app[0].destAddress = “server”

**.client.app[0].startTime = 1s

**.client.app[0].sendInterval = 2s

# Server configuration

**.server.numApps = 1

**.server.app[0].typename = “UdpSink”

# Attacker configuration

**.attacker.numApps = 1

**.attacker.app[0].typename = “ManInTheMiddle” # or “DosAttacker”

# Simulation time

sim-time-limit = 100s

7. Run and Visualize the Simulation

• Run the Simulation: Use the OMNeT++ IDE.
• Observe Behavior:
  • MITM: Logs display interrupted and alters the packets.
  • DoS: Increase the congestion from the attacker and server overload.
  • Routing Attack: Misrouted packets have the attack of routing.

8. Analyze Results

Metrics to Evaluate:

1. Packet Delivery Ratio:
   • Rate of packets for successfully delivered to the server in a PDR.
2. Network Latency:
   • Maximum delay due to the attack for the network.
3. Throughput:
   • Decrease the throughput for legitimate traffic.
4. Attack Impact:
   • Logs for the packet alter or stop.

Visualization:

• Used the OMNeT++’s tools we observe the congestion model, network congestion, and packet flows.

9. Enhance the Project

Step 9.1: Advanced Attacks

• Replicate the further complex environment such as Distributed DoS (DDoS) using several attacker nodes.
• Combine multiple attack types (e.g., DoS and MITM).

Step 9.2: Implement Detection and Mitigation

• Improve the IDS/IPS modules we find the response for the attacks:
  • Anomaly detected the technique.
  • DoS mitigation for finding the rate.

Step 9.3: Scale Up the Network

• Improve the mobility using INET mobility modules.
• Replicate the larger, real-world network topologies.
• Would you like assistance by particular section, like as coding the attack modules, setting the detection mechanisms, or analyzing the results?

Through this procedure, you can completely learned the concepts and the connection of attacker nodes, target nodes and legitimate clients which are required to accomplish the Active attack simulation process with the help of OMNeT++. If needed, we will present any details regarding these networks or OMNeT++ simulation process.