How to Start Network Forensics Projects Using NS2

To stimulate a Network Forensics project using NS2 (Network Simulator 2) has includes the replicate of environment in which network activities are tracked, seized, and analyzed to detect, investigate, or respond to cyber events. Below is a structured approach to begin:

Steps to Start Network Forensics Projects Using NS2

  1. Understand Network Forensics and NS2 Capabilities
  • Network Forensics: The process of seizing, recording, and examine the network packets to classify the security breaches or malicious activities.
  • NS2 Features: NS2 permits for complete packet-level replication, which is vital for network forensics, ensure the recreation of attack scenarios, congestion logging, and protocol analysis.
  1. Set up Your Environment
  • Install NS2: Install NS2 on a Linux system:

sudo apt-get install ns2

  • Install supporting tools:
    • Designed for envision the replication of NAM (Network Animator).
    • The tools like AWK or Python for examining and study trace files.
  • Validate the installation through process for a sample script:

ns example.tcl

  1. Define the Scope of the Project
  • Choose a Forensics Scenario:
    • Exploring the malware spreading in a network.
    • Examine the congestion design during a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.
    • Tracking the distrustful data exfiltration.
    • Recreate the movements during a data breach.
  • Set Goals:
    • Log and seizure network congestion for analysis.
    • Recognize malicious activities and their sources.
    • Create reports for forensic analysis.
  1. Design the Network Topology
  • Create a topology that includes:
    • Normal Nodes: Replicate the normal nodes for legitimate network activity.
    • Malicious Nodes: Replicate the attackers or compromised nodes.
    • Monitoring Node(s): Perform as a forensic agents or investigators seizing and logging congestion.
  • Example Topology:
    • A central server communicating by several clients.
    • One or more attacker nodes have created the malicious congestion.
    • A forensic track the node capturing and analyzing the congestion.
  1. Configure Traffic Logging and Analysis
  • Alter the TCL script to ensure the congestion logging and require the seizure parameters.
  • Example: Log all packets to a trace file.

set tracefile [open forensic_trace.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

Example TCL Snippet for Traffic Capture:

# Create nodes

set server [ns node]

set client [ns node]

set attacker [ns node]

set monitor [ns node]

# Create links

$ns duplex-link $server $client 1Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $server $attacker 1Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $server $monitor 1Mb 10ms DropTail

# Enable tracing

set tracefile [open forensic_trace.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

# Application traffic

set ftp [new Application/FTP]

$ftp attach-agent $client

$ns at 1.0 “$ftp start”

  1. Simulate Malicious Activities
  • Simulate attack behaviors:
    • DoS Attack: Produce the extreme congestion for overload the target.
    • Packet Injection: Forward the fake packets in the network.
    • Eavesdropping: Seizure the packets are transmit by detailed connection.
  • Sample for TCL snippet in a malicious node:

set udp [new Agent/UDP]

set malicious_app [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$malicious_app attach-agent $udp

$ns attach-agent $attacker $udp

  1. Run the Simulation
  • Implement  the TCL script:

ns network_forensics.tcl

  • It replicates the using envision NAM:

nam network_forensics.nam

  1. Analyze the Trace Files
  • Extract Forensic Evidence:
    • Analyze .tr files to classify:
      • A packet contains the source and destination.
      • Unusual for congestion design such as high traffic from a single node.
      • Stopped or delayed packets.
  • Use AWK or Python Scripts:
    • Describe the trace file to filter related data.
    • Sample AWK script to count packets from the attacker:

BEGIN {count=0;}

{

if ($1==”s” && $3==”attacker_node”) {

count++;

}

}

END {print “Packets sent by attacker:”, count;}

  1. Evaluate Forensic Data
  • Concentrate on:
    • Classifying the malicious nodes according to the congestion design.
    • Timestamp analysis to rebuild the attack timelines.
    • Packet payload analysis (if applicable).
  • Create the reports and graphs for envision the forensic findings:
    • Use the tool XGraph for plotting metrics such as throughput, delay, or packet drops.
  1. Enhance the Project
  • Advanced Features:
    • Execute the finding an anomaly methods.
    • Create a real-time packet for tracking system in NS2.
  • Countermeasures:
    • Responses are replicate like as isolating malicious nodes or rerouting traffic.
  1. Document the Project
  • Include:
    • Objective: Aim of network forensics project.
    • Network Setup: It includes the network topology and set-up.
    • Traffic Logs: Seized the congestion for trace files and analysis approaches.
    • Forensic Findings: It finding the observations, evidence, and conclusions.
    • Recommendations: It refers the enhancement or implementation.

Suggested Tools for Analysis

  • Wireshark: Designed for deeper analysis the packet seizures such as export simulated data from NS2.
  • Python or MATLAB: Intended for benefit of data analysis and envision.

Example Forensic Scenarios

  • DDoS Investigation: Examine on how the attack congestion for propagates.
  • Insider Threat Detection: Track the unusual designs from the trusted nodes.
  • Man-in-the-Middle Attack: Seizure the study of forged packets in the MIMA.

Here, we completely implement the network defence in ns2 tools that setup the simulation and then generate the nodes and then apply the network forensics process and evaluated. We also share the more data regarding the network forensics.