How to Implement Network Persistent Threats in OMNeT++
To implement the network Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) in OMNeT++, we have to generate a simulation environment in which the refined, cautious attacks are simulated over a protracted period. These threats usually have several stages containing reconnaissance, gaining a foothold, lateral movement, data exfiltration, and persistence into the network. This demonstration offers the implementation of APT in OMNeT++:
Step-by-Step Implementation:
- Define the Network Topology
Describe a network topology which has clients, servers, and security elements like firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS). This will serve as the environment where the APT will be simulated.
network APTNetwork
{
submodules:
client1: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,100”);
}
client2: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
firewall: FirewallModule {
@display(“p=400,150”);
}
ids: IDSModule {
@display(“p=500,150”);
}
appServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=600,150”);
}
dbServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=700,150”);
}
connections:
client1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
client2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
router.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.in++;
firewall.out++ <–> ids.in++;
ids.out++ <–> appServer.ethg++;
appServer.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> dbServer.ethg++;
}
- Implement the Firewall Module
The firewall will filter traffic and block illegal access, serving to identify and mitigate early stages of the APT includes reconnaissance and initial exploitation.
Firewall Module
// FirewallModule.cc
#include <omnetpp.h>
#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”
#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”
#include “inet/networklayer/ipv4/Ipv4Header_m.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, “out”);
} else {
EV << “Packet dropped by firewall.” << endl;
delete packet;
}
}
}
bool FirewallModule::isAllowed(Packet *packet)
{
const auto& networkHeader = packet->peekAtFront<Ipv4Header>();
std::string source = networkHeader->getSrcAddress().str();
std::string destination = networkHeader->getDestAddress().str();
// Example: Block traffic from known malicious IPs or to specific ports
if (source == “192.168.1.100” || destination == “192.168.1.200”) {
return false; // Block traffic
}
return true; // Allow all other traffic
}
- Implement the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) Module
The IDS will observe network traffic for suspicious activities, especially during the lateral movement and data exfiltration stages of the APT.
IDS Module
// IDSModule.cc
#include <omnetpp.h>
#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”
#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”
#include “inet/networklayer/ipv4/Ipv4Header_m.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);
void logSecurityEvent(const std::string &event);
};
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(msg, “out”);
}
}
void IDSModule::detectIntrusion(Packet *packet)
{
const auto& networkHeader = packet->peekAtFront<Ipv4Header>();
std::string source = networkHeader->getSrcAddress().str();
std::string destination = networkHeader->getDestAddress().str();
// Example: Detect suspicious lateral movement or unusual data transfers
if (source == “10.0.0.100” && destination == “192.168.1.200”) {
logSecurityEvent(“Suspicious lateral movement detected from ” + source + ” to ” + destination);
}
// Example: Detect potential data exfiltration by monitoring large outgoing traffic
if (packet->getByteLength() > 1000) { // Threshold for suspicious packet size
logSecurityEvent(“Potential data exfiltration detected from ” + source);
}
}
void IDSModule::logSecurityEvent(const std::string &event)
{
EV << “IDS Event: ” << event << endl;
// Additional logging to files or alerts can be implemented here
}
- Implement the Persistent Threat Module
This module mimics the behavior of an APT such as reconnaissance, initial access, lateral movement, persistence, and data exfiltration.
Persistent Threat Module
// PersistentThreatModule.cc
#include <omnetpp.h>
#include “inet/applications/tcpapp/TcpAppBase.h”
using namespace omnetpp;
using namespace inet;
class PersistentThreatModule : public TcpAppBase
{
protected:
virtual void initialize(int stage) override;
virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;
void performReconnaissance();
void gainFoothold();
void performLateralMovement();
void establishPersistence();
void exfiltrateData();
};
Define_Module(PersistentThreatModule);
void PersistentThreatModule::initialize(int stage)
{
TcpAppBase::initialize(stage);
if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {
scheduleAt(simTime() + 1, new cMessage(“performReconnaissance”));
scheduleAt(simTime() + 3, new cMessage(“gainFoothold”));
scheduleAt(simTime() + 5, new cMessage(“performLateralMovement”));
scheduleAt(simTime() + 7, new cMessage(“establishPersistence”));
scheduleAt(simTime() + 9, new cMessage(“exfiltrateData”));
}
}
void PersistentThreatModule::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg)
{
if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “performReconnaissance”) == 0) {
performReconnaissance();
delete msg;
} else if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “gainFoothold”) == 0) {
gainFoothold();
delete msg;
} else if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “performLateralMovement”) == 0) {
performLateralMovement();
delete msg;
} else if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “establishPersistence”) == 0) {
establishPersistence();
delete msg;
} else if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “exfiltrateData”) == 0) {
exfiltrateData();
delete msg;
} else {
TcpAppBase::handleMessageWhenUp(msg);
}
}
void PersistentThreatModule::performReconnaissance()
{
EV << “Performing reconnaissance…” << endl;
sendRequest(“GET /network_info HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: appServer\r\n\r\n”);
}
void PersistentThreatModule::gainFoothold()
{
EV << “Gaining a foothold in the network…” << endl;
sendRequest(“POST /login HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: appServer\r\n\r\nusername=admin&password=admin”);
}
void PersistentThreatModule::performLateralMovement()
{
EV << “Performing lateral movement…” << endl;
sendRequest(“GET /db_info HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: dbServer\r\n\r\n”);
}
void PersistentThreatModule::establishPersistence()
{
EV << “Establishing persistence in the network…” << endl;
sendRequest(“POST /install_backdoor HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: appServer\r\n\r\nbackdoor=installed”);
}
void PersistentThreatModule::exfiltrateData()
{
EV << “Exfiltrating data from the network…” << endl;
sendRequest(“GET /sensitive_data HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: dbServer\r\n\r\n”);
}
- Integrate the APT Modules
Generate a simulation of an APT by incorporating the firewall, IDS and persistent threat modules into the network.
network APTNetwork
{
submodules:
client1: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,100”);
}
client2: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
firewall: FirewallModule {
@display(“p=400,150”);
}
ids: IDSModule {
@display(“p=500,150”);
}
appServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=600,150”);
}
dbServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=700,150”);
}
aptThreat: PersistentThreatModule {
@display(“p=100,300”);
}
connections:
client1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
client2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
router.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.in++;
firewall.out++ <–> ids.in++;
ids.out++ <–> appServer.ethg++;
appServer.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> dbServer.ethg++;
aptThreat.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
}
- Run the Simulation
Compile and run the simulation in OMNeT++. The PersistentThreatModule will imitate the stages of an APT, while the firewall and IDS will try to identify and mitigate the threat.
- Analyze the Results
Check the OMNeT++ simulation log to monitor how the APT simulation was conducted and how the security components reacted. Verify that:
- During the lateral movement and data exfiltration, the IDS will identify the suspicious activities.
- The firewall blocked unauthorized access attempts.
- Extend the APT Simulation
You can extend this setup by:
- Simulating real-time response: Execute modules that simulate automated replies to identify threats like isolating compromised hosts or triggering alerts.
- Adding evasion techniques: Simulate APT behaviors that attempt to avoid detection by IDS like encryption of command and control traffic or reducing down the attack to evade triggering alarms.
- Integrating with threat intelligence: Update the firewall and IDS with new rules as per the latest threats using imitated threat intelligence feeds.
- Implementing advanced persistence mechanisms: Simulate more sophisticated persistence methods involves using legitimate services for long-term access.
In the above process, we delivered you the step-by-step guide on how to implement a Network Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) simulation in OMNeT++ with examples. If you have any doubts regarding this, we will help you out.
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