How to Implement Network Forensics in OMNeT++

To implement the network forensics in OMNeT++ has needs to design and mimic the network that can observe, log and evaluate the network traffic to analyse and prevent the security incidents. This process has contains to monitor the network packets, logging events, identifying anomalies, and evaluating the logs to familiarize the nature of the threats.

The given below are the procedures on how to implement the network forensics 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., NetworkForensicsSimulation).

Define the Network Topology

Generate a new NED file to describe the network topology contains hosts, routers, and a forensic server.

Example: Network Forensics Topology (NetworkForensicsNetwork.ned)

package networkforensics;

import inet.node.inet.StandardHost;

import inet.node.inet.Router;

network NetworkForensicsNetwork

{

parameters:

@display(“bgb=800,400”);

submodules:

host1: StandardHost {

@display(“p=100,200”);

}

host2: StandardHost {

@display(“p=300,200”);

}

router: Router {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

forensicServer: StandardHost {

@display(“p=200,300”);

}

connections allowunconnected:

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

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

forensicServer.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 = networkforensics.NetworkForensicsNetwork

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

# Forensic Server Configuration

*.forensicServer.numApps = 1

*.forensicServer.app[0].typename = “ForensicServerApp”

# IP Address Configuration

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

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

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

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

Create IP Address Configuration Files

Create XML files to outline 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 forensicServer (forensicServer.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Implement Forensic Server Logic

To mimic the forensic server’s characteristics to execute an application that logs network traffic and examines it for anomalies.

Example: Forensic Server Application (Pseudo-Code)

#include <omnetpp.h>

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

#include <fstream>

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class ForensicServerApp : public UdpBasicApp

{

protected:

std::ofstream logFile;

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;

void logTraffic(cMessage *msg);

void analyzeTraffic();

};

Define_Module(ForensicServerApp);

void ForensicServerApp::initialize(int stage) {

UdpBasicApp::initialize(stage);

if (stage == INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {

logFile.open(“traffic_log.txt”);

}

void ForensicServerApp::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) {

logTraffic(msg);

UdpBasicApp::handleMessageWhenUp(msg);

analyzeTraffic();

}

void ForensicServerApp::logTraffic(cMessage *msg) {

// Log the packet details to a file

logFile << “Received packet: ” << msg->getName() << ” at ” << simTime() << “\n”;

}

void ForensicServerApp::analyzeTraffic() {

// Implement traffic analysis logic

// Example: detect high traffic volume

}

Implement Logging and Analysis on Hosts

Hosts can also log specific events and send logs to the forensic server.

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.

At the end, we demonstrate how to simulate and setup the scenario using the OMNeT++ tool and how to evaluate the results for network forensics in the network circumstance. We plan to elaborate on the network forensics procedure in other simulation scenarios. For more support on implementation and project ideas you can approach us.