How to implement icmp attack in OMNeT++
To implement an ICMP attack in OMNeT++ has requires to includes mimicking a situation where one or more attacker nodes send a flood of ICMP packets like ICMP Echo Requests, commonly known as ping requests to overwhelm a target system, distracting its normal operation. The given below is a step-by-step procedure to implement an ICMP flood attack in OMNeT++:
Step-by-Step Implementations:
- Set up OMNeT++ and INET Framework
- Make surethat OMNeT++ and the INET framework are installed and configured on the system. The INET framework offers required modules for mimicking numerous network protocols, with ICMP.
- Define the Network Topology
- In a .ned file to define the network. This topology will contain the attacker node(s), the target node or server, and any middle network devices like routers.
Example:
network IcmpAttackNetwork
{
submodules:
attacker: StandardHost;
target: StandardHost;
router: Router;
connections:
attacker.ethg++ <–> Eth10G <–> router.ethg++;
router.ethg++ <–> Eth10G <–> target.ethg++;
}
- Configure the Attacker Node to Perform the ICMP Attack
- The attacker node should be configured to send a large volume of ICMP Echo Requests to the target node. We can use the PingApp module offered by the INET framework, or make a custom module for more developed behaviour.
Option A: Using PingApp for ICMP Flood
- Configure PingApp to send ICMP Echo Requests (ping) continuously at a high rate.
Example configuration in omnetpp.ini:
*.attacker.numApps = 1
*.attacker.app[0].typename = “PingApp”
*.attacker.app[0].destAddr = “target”
*.attacker.app[0].startTime = 1s
*.attacker.app[0].sendInterval = 0.01s # Very high frequency
*.attacker.app[0].count = -1 # Unlimited pings
*.attacker.app[0].packetLength = 64B # ICMP packet size
- destAddr identifies the IP address or host name of the target.
- sendInterval defines how often pings are sent. A short interval mimics a flood.
- count = -1 make sure continuous pinging without stopping.
- packetLength sets the size of each ICMP packet.
Option B: Creating a Custom ICMP Flood Module
- For more control over the attack, we can make a custom C++ module to generate ICMP packets directly.
Example C++ code for a custom ICMP flood module:
class IcmpFlood : public cSimpleModule
{
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
void sendIcmpFlood();
};
void IcmpFlood::initialize()
{
// Schedule the first ICMP packet send event
scheduleAt(simTime() + par(“startTime”), new cMessage(“icmpFlood”));
}
void IcmpFlood::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)
{
if (msg->isSelfMessage()) {
sendIcmpFlood();
scheduleAt(simTime() + par(“interval”), msg); // Schedule next packet
} else {
delete msg;
}
}
void IcmpFlood::sendIcmpFlood()
{
// Create and send an ICMP packet
auto packet = new cPacket(“ICMPFloodPacket”);
packet->setByteLength(par(“packetSize”));
// Set destination, protocol, etc.
send(packet, “out”);
}
Define_Module(IcmpFlood);
- This module sends ICMP packets at a defined interval, frequently flooding the target.
- Configure the Target Node
- The target node like a server should be configured to respond to ICMP Echo Requests like ping. Normally, no special configuration is required, as the default behaviour of a node is to reply to ICMP requests.
Example:
*.target.numApps = 1
*.target.app[0].typename = “UdpSink”
*.target.app[0].localPort = -1 # Respond to all incoming ICMP traffic
- Run the Simulation
- Compile and run the OMNeT++ simulation. The attacker node will start flooding the target including ICMP Echo Requests.
- Analyse the Results
- To monitor the network traffic by using OMNeT++’s tools. Focus on the following:
- Network Load: Check how much traffic is created by the attacker and its impact on the network.
- Target Behaviour: Monitor how the target node handles the flood—does it become unresponsive or slow down?
- Packet Loss: Analyse whether any packets are being dropped due to the flood.
- Enhancements and Variations
- Multiple Attackers: Simulate a distributed ICMP flood attack like DDoS by adding more attacker nodes.
- Defence Mechanisms: Execute and simulate defence mechanisms, like rate limiting or firewalls, to mitigate the ICMP attack.
- Advanced ICMP Attacks: Improve the simulation to include other kinds of ICMP-based attacks, like Smurf attacks or ICMP redirection.
Example Files
We may create the following files as part of the simulation:
- IcmpAttackNetwork.ned: Contains the network topology.
- omnetpp.ini: Encompasses configuration settings for the ICMP flood attack.
- IcmpFlood.cc: If we create one to custom C++ code for the ICMP flood module.
We are provided details about execution process to ICMP Attack in OMNeT++. We will give further informations for your requirements. Our developers successfully execute the implementation of ICMP attacks within the OMNeT++ tool for your projects. Please contact us to achieve optimal simulation results.