How to Implement Cybersecurity Auditing in OMNeT++
To implement the cybersecurity auditing in OMNeT++, we need to generate a system which observes network activities, identify potential security breaches and logs related event for analysis. Below is an example of how to set up a basic cybersecurity auditing system in OMNeT++.
Step-by-Step Implementation:
- Define the Network Topology
Use NED language to generate a basic network topology. Let’s assume a network with one client, one server, and a router connecting them.
network CybersecurityAuditNetwork
{
submodules:
client: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,150”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
server: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,150”);
}
connections:
client.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
router.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> server.ethg++;
}
- Create an Auditing Module
Monitor network traffic, identify security events and stores it by creating a module which will be connected to the router to observe all traffic moves over it.
// CyberAuditModule.cc
#include <omnetpp.h>
#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”
#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”
#include “inet/networklayer/ipv4/Ipv4Header_m.h”
#include “inet/linklayer/common/MacAddress.h”
using namespace omnetpp;
using namespace inet;
class CyberAuditModule : public cSimpleModule
{
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
void auditPacket(Packet *packet);
void logEvent(const std::string &event);
};
Define_Module(CyberAuditModule);
void CyberAuditModule::initialize()
{
// Initialize the auditing module
}
void CyberAuditModule::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)
{
if (Packet *packet = dynamic_cast<Packet *>(msg)) {
auditPacket(packet);
}
send(msg, “out”);
}
void CyberAuditModule::auditPacket(Packet *packet)
{
// Extract information from the packet
const auto& networkHeader = packet->peekAtFront<Ipv4Header>();
std::string source = networkHeader->getSrcAddress().str();
std::string destination = networkHeader->getDestAddress().str();
int protocol = networkHeader->getProtocolId();
// Example: Detect suspicious activity (e.g., access to a specific port)
if (protocol == IP_PROT_TCP) {
auto transportHeader = packet->peekDataAt<TcpHeader>(networkHeader->getHeaderLength());
int destPort = transportHeader->getDestPort();
if (destPort == 23) { // Telnet (often a security risk)
logEvent(“Suspicious activity: Access to Telnet port from ” + source + ” to ” + destination);
}
}
// Example: Log all traffic for auditing purposes
logEvent(“Packet from ” + source + ” to ” + destination + ” using protocol ” + std::to_string(protocol));
}
void CyberAuditModule::logEvent(const std::string &event)
{
EV << “CyberAudit: ” << event << endl;
// You could also write this to a file or a database for persistent logging
}
- Integrate the Auditing Module into the Network
Add the CyberAuditModule to the router in the network topology to observe all traffic passing through it.
// CybersecurityAuditNetwork.ned
network CybersecurityAuditNetwork
{
submodules:
client: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,150”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
audit: CyberAuditModule {
@display(“p=300,100”);
}
server: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,150”);
}
connections:
client.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
router.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> server.ethg++;
audit.in++ <–> router.ethg++;
audit.out++ <–> router.ethg++;
}
- Simulate a Security Event
Examine the cybersecurity auditing by simulating a situation in which the client attempts to access a week service (example: Telnet on port 23) on the server.
// ClientApp.cc (Example application to simulate an attack)
#include <omnetpp.h>
#include “inet/applications/tcpapp/TcpAppBase.h”
using namespace omnetpp;
using namespace inet;
class ClientApp : public TcpAppBase
{
protected:
virtual void initialize(int stage) override;
virtual void handleTimer(cMessage *msg) override;
};
Define_Module(ClientApp);
void ClientApp::initialize(int stage)
{
TcpAppBase::initialize(stage);
if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {
scheduleAt(simTime() + 1, new cMessage(“connect”));
}
}
void ClientApp::handleTimer(cMessage *msg)
{
TcpAppBase::connect();
TcpAppBase::sendRequest(“GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: server\r\n\r\n”);
}
- Run the Simulation
Compile and run the simulation in OMNeT++. The CyberAuditModule will observe the traffic and log events when certain conditions are met like when the client attempts to access the Telnet port on the server.
- Analyze the Results
Verify the OMNeT++ simulation log to see the events logged by the CyberAuditModule. This will contain normal traffic logging as well as any suspicious activities identified.
- Extend the Auditing Module
We can expand the auditing module by:
- Adding more sophisticated detection rules: For instance, identifying repeated login tries or unusually big data transfers.
- Incorporating with external logging systems: like sending logs to a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system.
- Triggering automated responses: like blocking traffic or notifying administrators if a threat is detected.
At the end of this procedure, you can completely understand the basic simulation process and the entire implementation of Cybersecurity Auditing in OMNeT++ and how to evaluate and extend the functionalities to this structure. We offer complete information on how to implement and execute the cybersecurity auditing in the OMNeT++ through this approach. Drop all your project detail to omnet-manual.com for good guidance.