How to Start Botnets Attacks Projects Using NS3

To start botnet attacks using NS3 that contains to make a network of compromised devices (bots), which can manage attacks in the botmaster’s control. For DDoS attacks, spamming, or other malicious activities, botnets are frequently utilized. Below is a stepwise technique to get started:

Steps to Start Botnets Attacks Projects in NS3

1. Set Up NS3

• Initially, we install and build NS3:

./waf configure

./waf build

• Confirm the installation:

./waf –run hello-simulator

2. Understand Botnet Attacks

• Botnet Components:
  • Botmaster: Central controller, which transmits commands to bots.
  • Bots: Compromised devices, from the botmaster that run commands.
  • Victims: Targeted nodes or servers impacted by the attack.
• Common Botnet Attacks:
  • DDoS: To overflow the victim including traffic.
  • Spamming: It transmits bulk messages.
  • Data Breaches: It exfiltrating sensitive information.

3. Define the Network Topology

• Make a network including:
  • Botmaster Node
  • Bots (Compromised Nodes)
  • Victim Node(s)
• Example Topology:

NodeContainer botmaster, bots, victim;

botmaster.Create(1); // Botmaster

bots.Create(5);      // 5 Bot nodes

victim.Create(1);    // 1 Victim

PointToPointHelper p2p;

p2p.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“10Mbps”));

p2p.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“2ms”));

// Connect botmaster to bots and victim

NetDeviceContainer botmasterToBots, botsToVictim;

botmasterToBots = p2p.Install(NodeContainer(botmaster.Get(0), bots.Get(0)));

botsToVictim = p2p.Install(NodeContainer(bots.Get(0), victim.Get(0)));

4. Assign IP Addresses

• We can install the Internet stack and then allocate an IP addresses.

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(botmaster);

stack.Install(bots);

stack.Install(victim);

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

address.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer botmasterInterfaces = address.Assign(botmasterToBots);

address.SetBase(“10.1.2.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer botsInterfaces = address.Assign(botsToVictim);

5. Simulate Normal Traffic

• Insert legitimate traffic replicating the regular network activity.

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(victim.Get(0));

serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(botsInterfaces.GetAddress(0), 9);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(100));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(1.0)));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));

ApplicationContainer clientApps = echoClient.Install(botmaster.Get(0));

clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

6. Implement the Botnet Attack

• Botmaster Command: The botmaster transmits a command to every bots attacking the victim.
• Bot Nodes Execute Attack: Bots overflow the victim including malicious traffic.

Example: DDoS Attack Using Botnet

• Botmaster transmits the attack commands:

void BotmasterCommand(Ptr<Node> botmaster, const std::vector<Ipv4Address>& botAddresses, Ipv4Address victimAddress) {

for (const auto& botAddr : botAddresses) {

Ptr<Socket> socket = Socket::CreateSocket(botmaster, TypeId::LookupByName(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”));

InetSocketAddress botSocketAddr = InetSocketAddress(botAddr, 9);

socket->Connect(botSocketAddr);

Ptr<Packet> command = Create<Packet>((uint8_t*)”ATTACK”, 6);

socket->Send(command);

}

}

• Bots execute the attack:

void BotAttack(Ptr<Node> bot, Ipv4Address victimAddr) {

Ptr<Socket> socket = Socket::CreateSocket(bot, TypeId::LookupByName(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”));

InetSocketAddress victimSocketAddr = InetSocketAddress(victimAddr, 9);

socket->Connect(victimSocketAddr);

for (int i = 0; i < 1000; ++i) {

Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(i * 0.001), [=]() {

Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet>(1024);  // Malicious packet

socket->Send(packet);

});

}

}

• Schedule commands and attacks:

std::vector<Ipv4Address> botAddresses;

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < bots.GetN(); ++i) {

botAddresses.push_back(bots.Get(i)->GetObject<Ipv4>()->GetAddress(1, 0));

}

Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(3.0), &BotmasterCommand, botmaster.Get(0), botAddresses, victim.Get(0)->GetObject<Ipv4>()->GetAddress(1, 0));

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < bots.GetN(); ++i) {

Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(4.0), &BotAttack, bots.Get(i), victim.Get(0)->GetObject<Ipv4>()->GetAddress(1, 0));

}

7. Enable Packet Capturing

• For analysis, seize packets using PCAP tracing.

PointToPointHelper p2p;

p2p.EnablePcapAll(“botnet-attack”);

8. Run the Simulation

• We need to compile and run the simulation:

./waf –run botnet-attack

• The .pcap files will create for each device.

9. Analyze the Attack with Wireshark

• Go to the .pcap file within Wireshark:

wireshark botnet-attack-0-0.pcap

• Examine the attack traffic to utilize Wireshark filters:
  • UDP Packets: udp && ip.dst == <victim IP>
  • High Traffic Volume: Detect high traffic rates unusually.

10. Optional: Implement Detection and Mitigation

• We replicate the defenses identifying and to moderate botnet activity:
  • Anomaly Detection: We need to observe the traffic volume or patterns.
  • Rate Limiting: Limit the volume of packets for each second from each source.
  • Blacklisting: Obstruct malicious bot IP addresses.
• Example: Rate Limiting

void LimitTraffic(Ptr<const Packet> packet, const Address& srcAddr) {

static std::map<Address, int> trafficCount;

trafficCount[srcAddr]++;

if (trafficCount[srcAddr] > 100) {  // Threshold

NS_LOG_UNCOND(“Dropping excessive packets from: ” << srcAddr);

}

}

11. Evaluate Metrics

• We compute the effect of the botnet attack:
  • Traffic Volume: Measure the volume of traffic, which is generated by the botnet.
  • Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR): Influence over legitimate traffic.
  • Latency: We estimate the maximized delays by reason of the attack.
• For in-depth analysis to utilize FlowMonitor:

FlowMonitorHelper flowmon;

Ptr<FlowMonitor> monitor = flowmon.InstallAll();

By using these steps, we can be replicated a botnet attack with the support of NS3 environment, examined the attack including Wireshark, and optionally we executed the countermeasures. Further insights will be shared in upcoming manual.

Our team specialize in addressing DDoS attacks, spamming, and other malicious activities tailored to your project requirements, while also ensuring optimal project performance. Please contact us at phdprojects.org to initiate communication. Simply provide us with the details of your project, and we will assist you in identifying the most suitable topics for simulation and Botnet attack projects.