How to Implement Intrusion Detection System in OMNeT++

To implement an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) in OMNeT++, we have to monitor traffic for malicious activities or policy violations by setting and simulating the network which contains detecting suspicious behavior, logging incidents, and possibly responding to threats. Here’s a step-by-step details to implementing an IDS in OMNeT++ using the INET framework:

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Install OMNeT++ and INET Framework

Make sure that you 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 it (like IDSSimulation).

Define the Network Topology

Create a new NED file to determine the network topology that has hosts, routers, and an IDS node.

Example: IDS Network Topology (IDSNetwork.ned)

package idsnetwork;

import inet.node.inet.StandardHost;

import inet.node.inet.Router;

network IDSNetwork

{

parameters:

@display(“bgb=800,400”);

submodules:

host1: StandardHost {

@display(“p=100,200”);

}

host2: StandardHost {

@display(“p=300,200”);

}

router: Router {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

ids: StandardHost {

@display(“p=200,300”);

}

connections allowunconnected:

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

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

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

}

Configure the Simulation

Generate an OMNeT++ initialization file to configure the simulation’s parameter.

Example: Configuration File (omnetpp.ini)

network = idsnetwork.IDSNetwork

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

# IDS 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”)

*.ids.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“ids.xml”)

Create IP Address Configuration Files

Create XML files to allocate 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 ids (ids.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Implement IDS Logic

Execute an application that monitors network traffic for suspicious activities and logs incidents, to simulate the IDS behavior.

Example: IDS 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);

};

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) {

// Implement traffic monitoring 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

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

}

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 exact events and send logs to the IDS.

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 the project and select Build Project.
Run the Simulation: To start the simulation, we have to click on the green play button in the OMNeT++ IDE.

Through this script, we successfully focused and learned the intrusion detection system’s installation and implementation in the OMNeT++ and how to use the INET framework to enhance it. If needed, we can guide you through simulation process used in OMNeT++ for your projects. We also provide comparison analysis for your project so share with us your project details for more support.