How to Implement Network Security Posture in OMNeT++
To implement the network security posture in OMNeT++ has encompasses mimicking the whole security state of a network by evaluating, handling and observing, several security features. The aim is to generate a simulation that reveals the network’s ability to withstand and react to security threats. Get your project simulation performance by sharing your parameter details with us, and we will compare them and provide you with the best results. The following is a model of how to set up and execute network security posture in OMNeT++.
Step-by-Step Implementations:
- Define the Network Topology
Primarily, build a network topology using the NED language. For this instance, let’s describe a network with a server, a firewall, a router, numerous clients, and a monitoring host.
network SecurityPostureNetwork
{
submodules:
client1: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,100”);
}
client2: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
firewall: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
server: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,150”);
}
monitor: StandardHost {
@display(“p=300,250”);
}
connections:
client1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.ethg++;
client2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.ethg++;
firewall.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> server.ethg++;
monitor.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.ethg++;
}
- Create Security Monitoring Module
Improve a module that observes the network’s security posture by measuring traffic, detecting potential vulnerabilities, and logging events that may specify a security issue.
// SecurityMonitoringModule.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 SecurityMonitoringModule : public cSimpleModule
{
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
void assessTraffic(Packet *packet);
void logSecurityEvent(const std::string &event);
void updateSecurityPosture();
// Security posture metrics
double vulnerabilityScore;
double threatLevel;
double overallSecurityPosture;
};
Define_Module(SecurityMonitoringModule);
void SecurityMonitoringModule::initialize()
{
vulnerabilityScore = 0.5; // Initial score (0-1 scale)
threatLevel = 0.3; // Initial threat level (0-1 scale)
overallSecurityPosture = 1.0 – (vulnerabilityScore * threatLevel);
EV << “Initial Security Posture: ” << overallSecurityPosture << endl;
}
void SecurityMonitoringModule::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)
{
if (Packet *packet = dynamic_cast<Packet *>(msg)) {
assessTraffic(packet);
}
send(msg, “out”);
updateSecurityPosture();
}
void SecurityMonitoringModule::assessTraffic(Packet *packet)
{
const auto& networkHeader = packet->peekAtFront<Ipv4Header>();
std::string source = networkHeader->getSrcAddress().str();
std::string destination = networkHeader->getDestAddress().str();
int protocol = networkHeader->getProtocolId();
// Example: Detect unusual traffic patterns or unauthorized access
if (protocol == IP_PROT_TCP) {
auto transportHeader = packet->peekDataAt<TcpHeader>(networkHeader->getHeaderLength());
int destPort = transportHeader->getDestPort();
if (destPort == 80 || destPort == 443) { // HTTP/HTTPS traffic
// Update threat level based on observed traffic
threatLevel += 0.01; // Increase threat level slightly
logSecurityEvent(“High volume of HTTP/HTTPS traffic detected from ” + source + ” to ” + destination);
} else if (destPort == 22) { // SSH access
threatLevel += 0.05; // Increase threat level more significantly
logSecurityEvent(“Suspicious SSH access attempt from ” + source + ” to ” + destination);
}
}
}
void SecurityMonitoringModule::logSecurityEvent(const std::string &event)
{
EV << “Security Event: ” << event << endl;
// Additional logging to files or databases can be added here
}
void SecurityMonitoringModule::updateSecurityPosture()
{
overallSecurityPosture = 1.0 – (vulnerabilityScore * threatLevel);
EV << “Updated Security Posture: ” << overallSecurityPosture << endl;
// Trigger alerts if security posture falls below a certain threshold
if (overallSecurityPosture < 0.5) {
EV << “Alert: Network Security Posture is critically low!” << endl;
// Implement response actions like increasing monitoring, blocking traffic, etc.
}
}
- Simulate Vulnerability and Threat Assessments
Integrate vulnerability and threat calculation into the network by mimicking several scenarios. For example, mimic an attacker attempting to exploit identified vulnerabilities or an increase in malicious traffic.
// ThreatSimulation.cc
#include <omnetpp.h>
#include “inet/applications/tcpapp/TcpAppBase.h”
using namespace omnetpp;
using namespace inet;
class ThreatSimulation : public TcpAppBase
{
protected:
virtual void initialize(int stage) override;
virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;
void simulateVulnerabilityExploit();
void simulateDDoSAttack();
};
Define_Module(ThreatSimulation);
void ThreatSimulation::initialize(int stage)
{
TcpAppBase::initialize(stage);
if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {
// Simulate different types of attacks
scheduleAt(simTime() + 2, new cMessage(“exploitVulnerability”));
scheduleAt(simTime() + 5, new cMessage(“ddosAttack”));
}
}
void ThreatSimulation::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg)
{
if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “exploitVulnerability”) == 0) {
simulateVulnerabilityExploit();
delete msg;
} else if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “ddosAttack”) == 0) {
simulateDDoSAttack();
delete msg;
} else {
TcpAppBase::handleMessageWhenUp(msg);
}
}
void ThreatSimulation::simulateVulnerabilityExploit()
{
EV << “Simulating vulnerability exploit…” << endl;
// Simulate an exploit targeting a specific vulnerability
// This would increase the vulnerability score in the SecurityMonitoringModule
sendRequest(“GET /vulnerable HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: server\r\n\r\n”);
}
void ThreatSimulation::simulateDDoSAttack()
{
EV << “Simulating DDoS attack…” << endl;
// Simulate a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack
for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
sendRequest(“GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: server\r\n\r\n”);
}
}
- Integrate Modules in the Network
Incorporate the SecurityMonitoringModule to assess security posture and ThreatSimulation to simulate attacks into the network.
network SecurityPostureNetwork
{
submodules:
client1: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,100”);
}
client2: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
firewall: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
server: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,150”);
}
monitor: StandardHost {
@display(“p=300,250”);
}
securityMonitor: SecurityMonitoringModule {
@display(“p=300,200”);
}
threatSimulator: ThreatSimulation {
@display(“p=100,50”);
}
connections:
client1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.ethg++;
client2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.ethg++;
firewall.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> server.ethg++;
monitor.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.ethg++;
securityMonitor.in++ <–> firewall.ethg++;
securityMonitor.out++ <–> server.ethg++;
threatSimulator.in++ <–> client1.ethg++;
threatSimulator.out++ <–> firewall.ethg++;
}
- Run the Simulation
In OMNeT++, compile and run the simulation. The SecurityMonitoringModule will calculate the security posture based on network traffic and update it as the ThreatSimulation module mimics several attacks.
- Analyse the Results
Verify the OMNeT++ simulation log to observe how the security posture varies in response to numerous mimicked attacks. The logs will demonstration events like enhanced threat levels, variations in vulnerability scores, and whole security posture metrics.
- Extend the Security Posture Assessment
We can extend this elementary setup by:
- Incorporating real-time threat intelligence: Incorporate external threat feeds to inform the threat level vigorously.
- Simulating more complex attack scenarios: Contain developed persistent threats (APTs), social engineering, or insider threats.
- Automating defensive responses: Execute modules that automatically react to low security posture by enlarging monitoring, or isolating affected network segments, blocking traffic.
- Visualizing the security posture: To make real-time dashboards presenting the present security posture of the network by using OMNeT++’s visualization tools.
Hence, the above informations are shown the way to proceed on how to implement and setup the Network Security Posture using OMNeT++. Further details will be provided according to your requirements. omnet-manual.com provides Implementation of Network Security Posture in OMNeT++ tool for your projects. Stay in touch with us and we will provide you with novel services.