How to Start Traffic Analysis Attack Projects Using OMNeT++

To start Traffic analysis attacks using OMNeT++ which needs to analyse the network traffic to gather sensitive data like interaction patterns, identities, or data flow details, only when encryption is utilised. We can be replicated such attacks by examining traffic patterns, volumes, and timings in OMNeT++.

Below is a step-by-step instruction to make and replicate a traffic analysis attack project in OMNeT++:

Steps to Start Traffic Analysis Attack Project in OMNeT++

1. Understand Traffic Analysis Attacks

Key Concepts

• Traffic Characteristics:
  • Traffic flow patterns among the nodes.
  • Packet size, timing, frequency, or volume.
• Attacker Goals:
  • Detect the interacting parties.
  • Gather message content or context.
  • Identify sensitive operations such as transactions, file transfers.

Common Scenarios

• Timing Analysis: According to the delays, implying message content or endpoints.
• Volume Analysis: To monitor traffic bursts detecting the significant events.
• Flow Analysis: Observing packet flows for identifying hidden interactions.

2. Set Up the Environment

Install OMNeT++

1. We should download and install OMNeT++ on the system.
2. Confirm the installation with example projects is properly configured.

Install INET Framework

• INET framework offers models for network protocols, traffic generation, and monitoring.

1. We need to download and construct the INET framework:

make makefiles

make

3. Plan Your Simulation

Define Objectives

• Replicate a network in typical operation.
• Execute an attacker module, which monitors and examines the traffic patterns.
• Measure the capability of attacker, implying the interaction details.

Network Topology

• Make use of a small to medium-sized network including end hosts, routers, and an attacker node.

Traffic Patterns

• Make traffic patterns to utilise apps such as:
  • Bursty traffic like FTP or HTTP transfers.
  • Constant Bit Rate (CBR).

4. Create a New OMNeT++ Project

1. Go to OMNeT++ IDE.
2. To navigate File > New > OMNeT++ Project.
3. Name it to the project as TrafficAnalysisAttack and choose Finish.

5. Implement the Traffic Analysis Logic

Attacker Module

Make a .cc file as TrafficAnalyzer.cc to examine the traffic logic.

Example: Traffic Analysis Module

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include <map>

#include <vector>

#include <string>

using namespace omnetpp;

class TrafficAnalyzer : public cSimpleModule {

private:

std::map<std::string, int> trafficCounts; // Track packet counts per source-destination pair

std::map<std::string, simtime_t> lastPacketTime; // Track last packet timing

std::vector<std::string> observedPairs; // List of active communication pairs

protected:

virtual void initialize() override {

EV << “Traffic Analyzer initialized.\n”;

}

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override {

auto packet = check_and_cast<cPacket *>(msg);

std::string src = packet->getSenderModule()->getFullName();

std::string dest = packet->getArrivalModule()->getFullName();

std::string flow = src + “->” + dest;

// Update traffic counts

trafficCounts[flow]++;

observedPairs.push_back(flow);

// Log packet timing

simtime_t currentTime = simTime();

simtime_t deltaTime = currentTime – lastPacketTime[flow];

lastPacketTime[flow] = currentTime;

EV << “Observed flow: ” << flow << “, Packet count: ” << trafficCounts[flow]

<< “, Time since last packet: ” << deltaTime << “\n”;

delete msg; // Drop the packet after analysis

}

virtual void finish() override {

EV << “Final traffic statistics:\n”;

for (const auto& [flow, count] : trafficCounts) {

EV << “Flow: ” << flow << “, Total packets: ” << count << “\n”;

}

}

};

Define_Module(TrafficAnalyzer);

6. Define Network Topology

Create a .ned File

Make a network topology including traffic sources, destinations, and an attacker node to utilise .ned files.

Example:

network TrafficAnalysisNetwork {

submodules:

host[4]: StandardHost {

@display(“i=device/pc”);

}

attacker: StandardHost {

@display(“i=device/router”);

}

connections allowunconnected:

host[0].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 100Mbps; } <–> host[1].pppg++;

host[1].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 100Mbps; } <–> host[2].pppg++;

host[2].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 100Mbps; } <–> host[3].pppg++;

host[3].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 100Mbps; } <–> attacker.pppg++;

}

7. Configure Simulation

Edit omnetpp.ini

Specify the traffic generation and attacker set up using .ini files.

Example:

[Config TrafficAnalysis]

network = TrafficAnalysisNetwork

**.host[*].numApps = 1

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

**.host[0].app[0].destAddresses = “host[3]”

**.host[0].app[0].messageLength = 512B

**.host[0].app[0].sendInterval = exponential(1s)

**.host[2].app[0].typename = “UdpBasicApp”

**.host[2].app[0].destAddresses = “host[1]”

**.host[2].app[0].messageLength = 1024B

**.host[2].app[0].sendInterval = exponential(2s)

*.attacker.routingProtocol = “TrafficAnalyzer”

8. Run the Simulation

1. To utilise Tkenv or Cmdenv, introduce the simulation.
2. Monitor:
   • Traffic emerges via network.
   • Attacker records and examines the traffic models.

9. Analyze Results

Metrics to Evaluate

• Observed Patterns:
  • We need to detect dynamic interaction pairs.
  • Associate burst models to potential activities.
• Traffic Volume:
  • We have to estimate the number of traffic for every flow.
• Timing Analysis:
  • Examine the inter-packet delays to imply traffic models for time analysis.

Visualization

• • Envision traffic flow paths and logs of analyzed traffic patterns with the support of OMNeT++ tools.

10. Extend and Optimize

Advanced Attacks

• Execute the attacks such as:
  • Traffic correlation to detect concealed services.
  • Side-channel analysis implying encryption key lengths or protocols.

Defensive Mechanisms

• Replicate the defenses such as traffic padding or combining to moderate analysis attacks.

Dynamic Scenarios

• We want to launch diverse traffic models or mobility for dynamic scenarios.

At the end of this process, we covered the overall insights on the implementation and simulation of Traffic Analysis Attack Projects within OMNeT++ using INET framework. If you have any doubts on this procedure, we will clarify it also.

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