How to Implement Network Defense in OMNeT++

To implement network defense in OMNeT++, we need to design and mimic a network that contains the mechanism for identifying, mitigating and responding the security threats and it concludes to deploy the security devices such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and implementing security policies. The given procedures were used to implement the network defense in OMNeT++ using the INET framework:

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Install OMNeT++ and INET Framework

Make sure we have OMNeT++ and the INET Framework installed.

Create a New OMNeT++ Project

Open OMNeT++ IDE: Start the OMNeT++ IDE.
Create a New Project: Go to File -> New -> OMNeT++ Project. Name your project (e.g., NetworkDefenseSimulation).

Define the Network Topology

Generate a new NED file to describe the network topology that contains hosts, routers, firewalls, and IDS/IPS nodes.

Example: Network Defense Topology (NetworkDefenseNetwork.ned)

package networkdefense;

import inet.node.inet.StandardHost;

import inet.node.inet.Router;

import inet.node.ethernet.EtherSwitch;

network NetworkDefenseNetwork

{

parameters:

@display(“bgb=800,400”);

submodules:

host1: StandardHost {

@display(“p=100,200”);

}

host2: StandardHost {

@display(“p=300,200”);

}

router: Router {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

firewall: Router {

@display(“p=200,300”);

}

ids: StandardHost {

@display(“p=400,200”);

}

connections allowunconnected:

host1.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router.ethg++;

host2.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router.ethg++;

firewall.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router.ethg++;

ids.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router.ethg++;

}

Configure the Simulation

Generate an OMNeT++ initialization file to configure the parameters of the simulation.

Example: Configuration File (omnetpp.ini)

network = networkdefense.NetworkDefenseNetwork

sim-time-limit = 200s

# Visualization

*.visualizer.canvasVisualizer.displayBackground = true

*.visualizer.canvasVisualizer.displayGrid = true

# Host Configuration

*.host*.numApps = 1

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

*.host*.app[0].destAddresses = “host2”

*.host*.app[0].destPort = 5000

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

*.host*.app[0].sendInterval = 1s

# Firewall Configuration

*.firewall.numApps = 1

*.firewall.app[0].typename = “FirewallApp”

# IDS/IPS Configuration

*.ids.numApps = 1

*.ids.app[0].typename = “IDSApp”

# IP Address Configuration

*.host1.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“host1.xml”)

*.host2.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“host2.xml”)

*.router.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“router.xml”)

*.firewall.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“firewall.xml”)

*.ids.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“ids.xml”)

Create IP Address Configuration Files

Create XML files to define the IP address configuration for each node.

Example: IP Configuration File for host1 (host1.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for host2 (host2.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for router (router.xml)

</interface>

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for firewall (firewall.xml)

</interface>

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for ids (ids.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Implement Firewall Logic

To mimic the firewall’s characteristics to execute an application that filters network traffic based on predefined rules.

Example: Firewall Application (Pseudo-Code)

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include <inet/applications/udpapp/UdpBasicApp.h>

#include <unordered_set>

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class FirewallApp : public UdpBasicApp

{

protected:

std::unordered_set<std::string> blockedIPs;

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;

void filterTraffic(cMessage *msg);

};

Define_Module(FirewallApp);

void FirewallApp::initialize(int stage) {

UdpBasicApp::initialize(stage);

if (stage == INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {

// Initialize blocked IPs

blockedIPs.insert(“192.168.1.3”); // Example blocked IP

}

void FirewallApp::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) {

filterTraffic(msg);

if (msg->isSelfMessage() || blockedIPs.find(msg->getSenderModule()->getFullPath()) == blockedIPs.end()) {

UdpBasicApp::handleMessageWhenUp(msg);

} else {

// Drop the packet if the sender IP is blocked

delete msg;

}

void FirewallApp::filterTraffic(cMessage *msg) {

// Implement additional traffic filtering logic if needed

}

Implement IDS/IPS Logic

To emulate the IDS/IPS behaviour, implement an application that monitors network traffic for suspicious activities and logs or responds to incidents.

Example: IDS/IPS Application (Pseudo-Code)

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include <inet/applications/udpapp/UdpBasicApp.h>

#include <fstream>

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class IDSApp : public UdpBasicApp

{

protected:

std::ofstream logFile;

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;

void monitorTraffic(cMessage *msg);

void logIncident(const std::string &incident);

void detectThreats(cMessage *msg);

void respondToThreat(cMessage *msg);

};

Define_Module(IDSApp);

void IDSApp::initialize(int stage) {

UdpBasicApp::initialize(stage);

if (stage == INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {

logFile.open(“ids_log.txt”);

}

void IDSApp::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) {

monitorTraffic(msg);

UdpBasicApp::handleMessageWhenUp(msg);

}

void IDSApp::monitorTraffic(cMessage *msg) {

// Monitor traffic and detect threats

detectThreats(msg);

}

void IDSApp::detectThreats(cMessage *msg) {

// Implement threat detection logic

// Example: detect high traffic volume or specific patterns

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

// Analyze the packet content

// If suspicious activity is detected, log the incident and respond to the threat

logIncident(“Suspicious packet detected: ” + std::string(msg->getName()));

respondToThreat(msg);

}

void IDSApp::respondToThreat(cMessage *msg) {

// Implement threat response logic

// Example: block the sender IP or drop the packet

delete msg; // Example: drop the packet

}

void IDSApp::logIncident(const std::string &incident) {

// Log the incident details to a file

logFile << incident << ” at ” << simTime() << “\n”;

}

Implement Logging and Analysis on Hosts

Hosts can also log specific events and send logs to the IDS/IPS node.

Example: Host Application with Logging (Pseudo-Code)

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include <inet/applications/udpapp/UdpBasicApp.h>

#include <fstream>

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class LoggingHostApp : public UdpBasicApp

{

protected:

std::ofstream logFile;

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;

void logEvent(const std::string &event);

};

Define_Module(LoggingHostApp);

void LoggingHostApp::initialize(int stage) {

UdpBasicApp::initialize(stage);

if (stage == INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {

logFile.open(“host_log.txt”);

}

void LoggingHostApp::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) {

// Log specific events

logEvent(“Sending packet: ” + std::string(msg->getName()));

UdpBasicApp::handleMessageWhenUp(msg);

}

void LoggingHostApp::logEvent(const std::string &event) {

// Log the event details to a file

logFile << event << ” at ” << simTime() << “\n”;

}

Run the Simulation

Build the Project: Right-click on project and choose Build Project.
Run the Simulation: Click on the green play button in the OMNeT++ IDE to start the simulation.

We have presented some highly relevant implementation ideas aimed at enhancing both factual and simulated Network Defense within OMNeT++. We encourage you to stay connected with us for further insights on simulation and project performance outcomes.