How to Implement Network Insider Threat in OMNeT++

To implement the Network Insider Threat in OMNeT++ required an environment that has an authorized user or device inside the network that acts malevolently, inattentively, theoretically causing damage to the network by simulating a network. These kinds of threats are specifically challenging since they instigate from reliable entities into the network, constructing detection and mitigation more complex. In the following below, we demonstrated an approach to accomplish this threat in OMNeT:

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Understand the Components

It is vital to understand the key factors contained in simulating a network insider threat before implementing:

Network Nodes: Devices like servers, workstations, and other endpoints that form the network.
Insider Node: A legitimate network node that acts maliciously, performing actions like data exfiltration, illegal access, or privilege escalation.
Security Components: Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), and other monitoring tools to detect and respond to insider threats.
Incident Response Systems: Tools and protocols for retorting to detected threats.

Define the Network Topology

Start by describing a network topology in OMNeT++ which has network nodes, an insider node, security elements and capably an attacker or outside threat to imitate difficult situations.

network NetworkInsiderThreat

{

submodules:

server: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=100,200”);

}

workstation: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=200,250”);

}

insider: InsiderNode {

@display(“p=150,150”);

}

router: Router {

@display(“p=300,200”);

}

firewall: FirewallModule {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

ids: IDSModule {

@display(“p=400,100”);

}

irs: IncidentResponseSystem {

@display(“p=500,200”);

}

connections:

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

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

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

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

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

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

}

Implement the Network Node

The Network Node denotes devices that are fragment of the network infrastructure. These devices will perform normally and send or receive data.

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 Insider Node

The Insider Node acts usually most of the time but periodically performs mischievous actions includes unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration.

Insider Node Implementation

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”

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

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class InsiderNode : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

void performMaliciousActivity();

void sendData();

bool isMaliciousActivityScheduled;

};

Define_Module(InsiderNode);

void InsiderNode::initialize(int stage)

{

cSimpleModule::initialize(stage);

if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {

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

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

isMaliciousActivityScheduled = false;

}

void InsiderNode::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)

{

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

sendData();

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

performMaliciousActivity();

}

delete msg;

}

void InsiderNode::sendData()

{

// Simulate sending normal data

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

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”));

// Occasionally schedule malicious activity

if (!isMaliciousActivityScheduled && uniform(0, 1) < 0.1) { // 10% chance

scheduleAt(simTime() + uniform(2, 5), new cMessage(“performMaliciousActivity”));

isMaliciousActivityScheduled = true;

}

void InsiderNode::performMaliciousActivity()

{

EV << “Insider Node performing malicious activity…” << endl;

// Simulate malicious activity, such as data exfiltration or unauthorized access

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

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

send(packet, “ethgOut”);

isMaliciousActivityScheduled = false;

}

Implement the Firewall Module

The Firewall Module filters traffic to and from network nodes containing the insider node, making sure only illegal traffic passes through 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(“MaliciousPacket”) == std::string::npos; // Example rule to detect malicious activity

}

Implement the IDS Module

The IDS Module observes network traffic to detect any impending interruptions or malevolent activities from the insider node.

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(“MaliciousPacket”) != std::string::npos) {

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

// Notify the Incident Response System

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

send(alert, “ethgOut”);

}

Implement the Incident Response System (IRS)

The IRS is responsible for answering to identified insider threats by taking suitable actions, like isolating the insider node, blocking malicious traffic, or alerting 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 respondToInsiderThreat();

};

Define_Module(IncidentResponseSystem);

void IncidentResponseSystem::initialize()

{

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

}

void IncidentResponseSystem::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)

{

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

respondToInsiderThreat();

}

delete msg;

}

void IncidentResponseSystem::respondToInsiderThreat()

{

EV << “Responding to insider threat…” << endl;

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

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

}

Integrate All Components into the Network Insider Threat Simulation

Create a network insider threat simulation by integrating the network nodes, insider node, firewall, IDS, and IRS into the network.

network NetworkInsiderThreat

{

submodules:

server: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=100,200”);

}

workstation: NetworkNode {

@display(“p=200,250”);

}

insider: InsiderNode {

@display(“p=150,150”);

}

router: Router {

@display(“p=300,200”);

}

firewall: FirewallModule {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

ids: IDSModule {

@display(“p=400,100”);

}

irs: IncidentResponseSystem {

@display(“p=500,200”);

}

connections:

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

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

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

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

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

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

}

Run the Simulation

Compile and run the simulation in OMNeT++. The network should securely manage data communication while detecting and responding to any insider threats as per the implemented functionality.

Analyze the Results

Examine the OMNeT++ simulation log to monitor how the network managed normal and malicious activities, detected intrusions, and reacted to insider threats. Certify that:

The firewall appropriately filtered traffic.
The IDS detected insider threats and notified the IRS.
The IRS responded properly to the identified insider threats.
The insider node’s malicious activities were mitigated effectively.

Extend the Network Insider Threat Simulation

You can extend this setup by:

Implementing more advanced security mechanisms: Contains methods like machine learning-based anomaly detection, behavior analysis, and automated incident response.
Simulating additional threats: Has various kinds of insider threats like accidental breaches, disgruntled employees, or compromised devices.
Adding monitoring and logging: Execute logging mechanisms to find network activity, security events, and incident response actions.
Integrating with cloud and IoT environments: Mimic network insider threats in environments with cloud services and IoT devices.

According to this procedure, we aggregated the essential information offered as a guide to implementing a network insider threat in OMNeT++ and the usage of IDS protocol to detect the network’s traffic.

Please contact us so that we can help you implement Network Insider Threat in OMNeT++ tool for your projects. We offer innovative advice and services. Simply share the details of your parameters with us to receive the network simulation performance for your project