How to Start Packet Flooding Attack Projects using OMNeT++

To create a Packet Flooding Attack in OMNeT++ replicate the environment in which an attacker overcomes a network or node through sending an extreme number of packets, disrupting the general communication and depleting resources. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a Packet Flooding Attack project:

Steps to Start Packet Flooding Attack Projects using OMNeT++

  1. Understand the Packet Flooding Attack
  • Definition: A packet flooding attack transmit the massive number of packets to the network or a specific goal, leading to:
    • It contains the Network congestion.
    • It utilized the resource exhaustion on the target node.
    • It involves the disruption of legitimate traffic.
  • Common Flooding Attacks:
    • UDP Flooding: High-volume the UDP packets forward to a aim.
    • ICMP Flooding (Ping Flood): Extreme ICMP packets overcome the goal.
    • TCP Flooding: Abuses the TCP protocol we exhaust the server resources for flooding.
  1. Set Up OMNeT++ and INET Framework
  • OMNeT++ Installation: Download OMNeT++ from the official website.
  • INET Framework Installation: Use INET to replicate the TCP, UDP, and ICMP traffic, that are need a flooding environment.
  1. Define Project Scope

Step 3.1: Goals

  • Flooding attack replicate a a wired or wireless network.
  • Measure the attack’s impact on:
    • Network performance such as latency, throughput.
    • Packet delivery ratio.
    • Resource usage for the aim node.

Step 3.2: Metrics

  • Throughput: Bandwidth consumed through attack congestion.
  • Latency: Delays produced by network congestion.
  • Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR): Rate of legitimate packets successfully delivered in the PDR.
  1. Design the Network Topology

Generate a network topology through an attacker node, legitimate nodes, and a target node for sample a server.

Example .ned File:

network PacketFloodingAttackNetwork {

submodules:

attacker: StandardHost;   // Attacker node

client: StandardHost;     // Legitimate client

server: StandardHost;     // Target server

router: Router;           // Router connecting all nodes

connections allowunconnected:

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

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

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

}

  1. Implement the Packet Flooding Attack

Step 5.1: Create the Attacker Module

Build a alter components we transmits a large number of packets at a increase the percentage.

#include <omnetpp.h>

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

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class PacketFloodingAttacker : public cSimpleModule {

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

void sendFloodPacket();

};

Define_Module(PacketFloodingAttacker);

void PacketFloodingAttacker::initialize() {

// Schedule the first flooding packet

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

}

void PacketFloodingAttacker::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {

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

sendFloodPacket();

// Continue flooding at a high rate

scheduleAt(simTime() + 0.01, msg); // Adjust interval for attack intensity

}

}

void PacketFloodingAttacker::sendFloodPacket() {

auto pkt = new Packet(“FloodPacket”);

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

send(pkt, “out”);

EV << “Flooding packet sent.\n”;

}

Step 5.2: Configure the Target Node

Use INET’s UdpSink or TcpServerApp components to replicate the server below for a attack.

Step 5.3: Add Legitimate Traffic

Use INET’s UdpBasicApp for legitimate traffic among a client and the server.

  1. Configure the Simulation

Example .ini File Configuration:

[Config PacketFloodingSimulation]

network = PacketFloodingAttackNetwork

# 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

**.client.app[0].packetLength = 512B

# Target server configuration

**.server.numApps = 1

**.server.app[0].typename = “UdpSink”

# Attacker configuration

**.attacker.numApps = 1

**.attacker.app[0].typename = “PacketFloodingAttacker”

# Simulation time

sim-time-limit = 100s

  1. Run the Simulation
  • Launch the Simulation: Use OMNeT++ IDE.
  • Observe the Behavior:
    • Legitimate traffic from the client to the server for the process of behaviour.
    • TheHigh-volume attack are congested from the attacker to the server.
  1. Analyze Results

Metrics to Analyze:

  1. Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR):
    • Calculate the rate of legitimate packets successfully received through the server.
  2. Latency:
    • Follow on the delay experienced through legitimate packets due to flooding.
  3. Throughput:
    • Combine the bandwidth usage of attack congestion against the legitimate traffic.
  4. Server Performance:
    • Estimate the server performance for resource utilization such as CPU, memory if applicable.

Tools:

  • Use OMNeT++’s built-in visualization tools we examine the packet flows for the performance metrics.
  1. Enhance the Project

Step 9.1: Advanced Attacks

  • Replicate the Distributed Flooding using several attacker nodes.
  • Associate the flooding through other attacks, like as spoofing or routing attacks.

Step 9.2: Implement Detection and Mitigation

  • Add an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to detect flooding:
    • Examine the abnormal congestion model or packet rates.
  • Apply the rate limiting we stop the excess packets from the attacker.

Step 9.3: Add Mobility

  • Use INET’s mobility components to replicate the mobile attackers and dynamic network topologies.

As we discussed earlier about the simulation procedures that were utilized to simulate the packet flooding attack using OMNeT++ tool and it contains the essential information like step-by step procedure, explanation and extension for the simulation. If you need more details then feel free to ask!