How to Implement Cyber Warfare in OMNeT++

To implement the cyber warfare scenario in OMNeT+, we have to replicate a network or several networks that should be large-scale and has coordinated attack. This warfare can contain different forms attacks like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), malware propagation, data breaches, and even attacks on critical infrastructure. This kind of simulation is difficult and needs the integration of various components like attackers, defenders, and potentially vulnerable systems.

We offered the step-by-step guide on how to implement a cyber warfare scenario in OMNeT++.

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Understand the Components

It’s important to know the key components involved in simulating cyber warfare before accomplishment:

Network Nodes: These can contain servers, workstations, routers, IoT devices, and other critical infrastructure components.
Attacker Nodes: These signifies the cyber warfare threat actors, capable of launching different kinds of cyber attacks.
Defensive Mechanisms: Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), and Incident Response Systems (IRS) to monitor, detect, and respond to attacks.
Attack Types: These can include DDoS attacks, malware infections, data breaches, man-in-the-middle attacks, and more.

Define the Network Topology

In OMNeT++, state the network topology that contains various network nodes, attacker nodes, and defensive mechanisms. Simulate a realistic environment where cyber warfare can take place by developing this topology.

network CyberWarfareNetwork

{

submodules:

server1: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=100,200”);

}

server2: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=200,250”);

}

criticalInfrastructure: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=150,150”);

}

attacker1: AttackerNode {

@display(“p=250,150”);

}

attacker2: AttackerNode {

@display(“p=250,250”);

}

router: Router {

@display(“p=300,200”);

}

firewall: FirewallModule {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

ids: IDSModule {

@display(“p=400,100”);

}

ips: IPSModule {

@display(“p=450,100”);

}

irs: IncidentResponseSystem {

@display(“p=500,200”);

}

connections:

server1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

server2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

criticalInfrastructure.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

attacker1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

attacker2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

router.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.ethg++;

firewall.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> ids.ethg++;

ids.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> ips.ethg++;

ips.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> irs.ethg++;

}

Implement the Network Node

The Network Node indicates devices that are part of the network infrastructure. These devices will operates normally however can become targets of attacks.

Network Node Implementation

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”

#include “inet/applications/udpapp/UDPBasicApp.h”

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class NetworkNode : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

void sendData();

};

Define_Module(NetworkNode);

void NetworkNode::initialize(int stage)

{

cSimpleModule::initialize(stage);

if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {

EV << “Network Node Initialized” << endl;

scheduleAt(simTime() + uniform(1, 3), new cMessage(“sendData”));

}

void NetworkNode::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)

{

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

sendData();

}

delete msg;

}

void NetworkNode::sendData()

{

// Simulate sending data

Packet *packet = new Packet(“DataPacket”);

packet->insertAtBack(makeShared<Chunk>(std::vector<int>{1, 2, 3})); // Example data

send(packet, “ethgOut”);

// Schedule the next data sending

scheduleAt(simTime() + uniform(1, 3), new cMessage(“sendData”));

}

Implement the Attacker Node

The Attacker Node signifies the cyber warfare actors that launch coordinated attacks on the network. These nodes can implement different attacks like DDoS, malware injection, and more.

Attacker Node Implementation

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”

#include “inet/applications/tcpapp/TcpAppBase.h”

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class AttackerNode : public TcpAppBase

{

protected:

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;

void launchDDoSAttack();

void injectMalware();

};

Define_Module(AttackerNode);

void AttackerNode::initialize(int stage)

{

TcpAppBase::initialize(stage);

if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {

scheduleAt(simTime() + 2, new cMessage(“launchDDoSAttack”));

scheduleAt(simTime() + 5, new cMessage(“injectMalware”));

}

void AttackerNode::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg)

{

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

launchDDoSAttack();

delete msg;

} else if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “injectMalware”) == 0) {

injectMalware();

delete msg;

} else {

TcpAppBase::handleMessageWhenUp(msg);

}

void AttackerNode::launchDDoSAttack()

{

EV << “Launching DDoS attack on network…” << endl;

for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) {

Packet *packet = new Packet(“DDoSPacket”);

sendToUDP(packet, localPort, Ipv4AddressResolver().resolve(“server1”), 5000);

}

void AttackerNode::injectMalware()

{

EV << “Injecting malware into the network…” << endl;

// Simulate malware injection into the network

Packet *packet = new Packet(“MalwarePacket”);

packet->insertAtBack(makeShared<Chunk>(std::vector<int>{999, 999, 999})); // Example malicious data

sendToUDP(packet, localPort, Ipv4AddressResolver().resolve(“criticalInfrastructure”), 5000);

}

Implement the Firewall Module

The Firewall Module filters traffic to and from network nodes containing the attacker nodes, Making sure only validate traffic passes over and blocking any suspicious activity.

Firewall Module Implementation

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”

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

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class FirewallModule : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

bool isAllowed(Packet *packet);

};

Define_Module(FirewallModule);

void FirewallModule::initialize()

{

EV << “Firewall Module Initialized” << endl;

}

void FirewallModule::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)

{

if (Packet *packet = dynamic_cast<Packet *>(msg)) {

if (isAllowed(packet)) {

send(packet, “ethgOut”);

} else {

EV << “Packet dropped by firewall.” << endl;

delete packet;

}

bool FirewallModule::isAllowed(Packet *packet)

{

// Implement filtering logic (e.g., block specific IPs or patterns)

const auto &payload = packet->peekData();

std::string data = payload->str();

return data.find(“DDoSPacket”) == std::string::npos && data.find(“MalwarePacket”) == std::string::npos;

}

Implement the IDS Module

The IDS Module observes network traffic to identify any capable intrusions or attacks like DDoS, malware injections, or unauthorized access attempts.

IDS Module Implementation

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”

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

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class IDSModule : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

void detectIntrusion(Packet *packet);

};

Define_Module(IDSModule);

void IDSModule::initialize()

{

EV << “IDS Module Initialized” << endl;

}

void IDSModule::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)

{

if (Packet *packet = dynamic_cast<Packet *>(msg)) {

detectIntrusion(packet);

send(packet, “ethgOut”);

}

delete msg;

}

void IDSModule::detectIntrusion(Packet *packet)

{

const auto &payload = packet->peekData();

std::string data = payload->str();

// Implement intrusion detection logic

if (data.find(“DDoSPacket”) != std::string::npos ||

data.find(“MalwarePacket”) != std::string::npos) {

EV << “Intrusion detected! Notifying Incident Response System…” << endl;

// Notify the Incident Response System

cMessage *alert = new cMessage(“CyberWarfareAlert”);

send(alert, “ethgOut”);

}

Implement the IPS Module

The IPS Module is accountable for not just identifying and also actively sheltering attacks. It can chunk malicious traffic in real-time.

IPS Module Implementation

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”

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

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class IPSModule : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

void preventAttack(Packet *packet);

};

Define_Module(IPSModule);

void IPSModule::initialize()

{

EV << “IPS Module Initialized” << endl;

}

void IPSModule::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)

{

if (Packet *packet = dynamic_cast<Packet *>(msg)) {

preventAttack(packet);

send(packet, “ethgOut”);

}

delete msg;

}

void IPSModule::preventAttack(Packet *packet)

{

const auto &payload = packet->peekData();

std::string data = payload->str();

// Implement prevention logic

if (data.find(“DDoSPacket”) != std::string::npos ||

data.find(“MalwarePacket”) != std::string::npos) {

EV << “Prevented attack, blocking the packet!” << endl;

// Block the packet or take other preventive actions

delete packet;

}

Implement the Incident Response System (IRS)

The IRS is accountable for reacting to detected attacks by taking proper actions like isolating compromised systems, blocking malicious traffic, and alerting network administrators.

Incident Response System Implementation

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”

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

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class IncidentResponseSystem : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

void respondToCyberWarfare();

};

Define_Module(IncidentResponseSystem);

void IncidentResponseSystem::initialize()

{

EV << “Incident Response System Initialized” << endl;

}

void IncidentResponseSystem::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)

{

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

respondToCyberWarfare();

}

delete msg;

}

void IncidentResponseSystem::respondToCyberWarfare()

{

EV << “Responding to cyber warfare…” << endl;

// Implement incident response logic (e.g., isolate nodes, block traffic)

// Example: Send a message to firewall or IPS to block certain traffic

}

Integrate All Components into the Cyber Warfare Simulation

Generate a complete cyber warfare simulation by integrating the network nodes, attacker nodes, firewall, IDS, IPS, and IRS into the network.

network CyberWarfareNetwork

{

submodules:

server1: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=100,200”);

}

server2: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=200,250”);

}

criticalInfrastructure: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=150,150”);

}

attacker1: AttackerNode {

@display(“p=250,150”);

}

attacker2: AttackerNode {

@display(“p=250,250”);

}

router: Router {

@display(“p=300,200”);

}

firewall: FirewallModule {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

ids: IDSModule {

@display(“p=400,100”);

}

ips: IPSModule {

@display(“p=450,100”);

}

irs: IncidentResponseSystem {

@display(“p=500,200”);

}

connections:

server1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

server2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

criticalInfrastructure.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

attacker1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

attacker2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;

router.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.ethg++;

firewall.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> ids.ethg++;

ids.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> ips.ethg++;

ips.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> irs.ethg++;

}

Run the Simulation

Compile and run the simulation in OMNeT++. As per the executed functionalities, the network can manage normal operations while detecting, guarding, and reacting to cyber warfare activities.

Analyze the Results

Verify the OMNeT++ simulation log to monitor how the network managed normal operations and cyber warfare activities. Verify that:

The firewall properly filtered traffic.
The IDS detected attacks and notifies the IRS.
The IPS prevented attacks by blocking malicious packets.
The IRS responded aptly to the identified attacks.

Extend the Cyber Warfare Simulation

You can expand this setup by:

Implementing more advanced attack scenarios: Contain ransomware attacks, data breaches, and advanced persistent threats (APTs).
Simulating coordinated attacks: Many attacker nodes can launch harmonized attacks.
Adding monitoring and logging: Accomplish logging mechanisms to find network activity, security events, and incident response actions.
Integrating with other environments: Imitate cyber warfare in cloud environments, IoT networks, and other complex infrastructures.

In conclusion, we comprehensively provided the necessary details and guided you to utilize this demonstration to implement the cyber warfare in OMNeT++ with samples and also how to extend the simulation.

Stay in touch with our team to ensure the best implementation of Cyber Warfare in OMNeT++ tool support.