How to Implement Network Web Security in OMNeT++
To implement the network web security in OMNeT++ encompasses mimicking a situation where services and web applications are secure against several security threats, like, cross-site scripting (XSS), unauthorized access, denial of service (DoS) attacks, and SQL injection. Given below is a step-by-step approaches on how to execute network web security in OMNeT++ with instances.
Step-by-Step Implementations:
- Define the Network Topology
Initially, describe a simple network topology that contains a router, a web server, web clients, and a database server. It will permit us to mimic the interaction among clients and the web server, and execute security measures to shield the web applications.
network WebSecurityNetwork
{
submodules:
webClient1: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,100”);
}
webClient2: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
webServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,150”);
}
dbServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=700,150”);
}
firewall: FirewallModule {
@display(“p=300,250”);
}
ids: IDSModule {
@display(“p=400,250”);
}
waf: WAFModule {
@display(“p=500,250”);
}
connections:
webClient1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
webClient2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
router.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.in++;
firewall.out++ <–> ids.in++;
ids.out++ <–> waf.in++;
waf.out++ <–> webServer.ethg++;
webServer.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> dbServer.ethg++;
}
- Implement a Firewall Module
A firewall is necessary for refining traffic and blocking unauthorized access to the web server.
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 specific IP addresses 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 a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A WAF is used to defend web applications by straining and observing HTTP requests to avoid attacks like SQL injection, XSS, and others.
Web Application Firewall (WAF) Module
// WAFModule.cc
#include <omnetpp.h>
#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”
#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”
using namespace omnetpp;
using namespace inet;
class WAFModule : public cSimpleModule
{
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
bool isMalicious(Packet *packet);
};
Define_Module(WAFModule);
void WAFModule::initialize()
{
EV << “WAF Module Initialized” << endl;
}
void WAFModule::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)
{
if (Packet *packet = dynamic_cast<Packet *>(msg)) {
if (isMalicious(packet)) {
EV << “Malicious request blocked by WAF.” << endl;
delete packet;
} else {
send(packet, “out”);
}
}
}
bool WAFModule::isMalicious(Packet *packet)
{
const auto& payload = packet->peekData();
std::string requestData(payload->str());
// Example: Detect SQL injection attempts
if (requestData.find(“SELECT”) != std::string::npos && requestData.find(“WHERE”) != std::string::npos) {
return true; // Block SQL injection attempt
}
// Example: Detect XSS attempts
if (requestData.find(“<script>”) != std::string::npos) {
return true; // Block XSS attempt
}
return false; // Allow all other requests
}
- Implement an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
An IDS observes network traffic for suspicious activities, like potential attacks on the web server or unauthorized access attempts.
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 unauthorized access attempts
if (source == “10.0.0.100” && destination == “192.168.1.200”) {
logSecurityEvent(“Unauthorized access attempt detected from ” + source + ” to ” + destination);
}
// Example: Detect potential DDoS attack by monitoring high traffic volume
if (packet->getByteLength() > 1000) { // Threshold for suspicious packet size
logSecurityEvent(“Potential DDoS attack 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
}
- Integrate the Security Modules
Incorporate the FirewallModule, WAFModule, and IDSModule into the network to defend web applications running on the web server.
network WebSecurityNetwork
{
submodules:
webClient1: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,100”);
}
webClient2: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
webServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,150”);
}
dbServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=700,150”);
}
firewall: FirewallModule {
@display(“p=300,250”);
}
ids: IDSModule {
@display(“p=400,250”);
}
waf: WAFModule {
@display(“p=500,250”);
}
connections:
webClient1.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
webClient2.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> router.ethg++;
router.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> firewall.in++;
firewall.out++ <–> ids.in++;
ids.out++ <–> waf.in++;
waf.out++ <–> webServer.ethg++;
webServer.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> dbServer.ethg++;
}
- Simulate Web Attacks and Security Threats
Mimic various web attacks, like unauthorized access, DDoS attacks, SQL injection, and XSS, to check the robustness of the security mechanisms.
Attack Simulation Module
// AttackSimulationModule.cc
#include <omnetpp.h>
#include “inet/applications/tcpapp/TcpAppBase.h”
using namespace omnetpp;
using namespace inet;
class AttackSimulationModule : public TcpAppBase
{
protected:
virtual void initialize(int stage) override;
virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;
void simulateSQLInjection();
void simulateXSS();
void simulateDDoSAttack();
};
Define_Module(AttackSimulationModule);
void AttackSimulationModule::initialize(int stage)
{
TcpAppBase::initialize(stage);
if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {
scheduleAt(simTime() + 3, new cMessage(“sqlInjection”));
scheduleAt(simTime() + 5, new cMessage(“xssAttack”));
scheduleAt(simTime() + 7, new cMessage(“ddosAttack”));
}
}
void AttackSimulationModule::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg)
{
if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “sqlInjection”) == 0) {
simulateSQLInjection();
delete msg;
} else if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “xssAttack”) == 0) {
simulateXSS();
delete msg;
} else if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “ddosAttack”) == 0) {
simulateDDoSAttack();
delete msg;
} else {
TcpAppBase::handleMessageWhenUp(msg);
}
}
void AttackSimulationModule::simulateSQLInjection()
{
EV << “Simulating SQL injection attack…” << endl;
sendRequest(“GET /search?query=’ OR ‘1’=’1 HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: webServer\r\n\r\n”);
}
void AttackSimulationModule::simulateXSS()
{
EV << “Simulating XSS attack…” << endl;
sendRequest(“GET /profile?name=<script>alert(‘XSS’);</script> HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: webServer\r\n\r\n”);
}
void AttackSimulationModule::simulateDDoSAttack()
{
EV << “Simulating DDoS attack…” << endl;
for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
sendRequest(“GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: webServer\r\n\r\n”);
}
}
- Run the Simulation
In OMNeT++, compile and run the simulation. The FirewallModule will strain traffic, the IDSModule will observe for suspicious activities, and the WAFModule will block malicious web requests.
- Analyse the Results
Verify the OMNeT++ simulation log to view how the security modules react to the mimicked web attacks. Examine the logs to verify whether the firewall efficiently blocked unauthorized traffic, whether the IDS detected intrusions, and whether the WAF blocked SQL injection and XSS attempts.
- Extend the Web Security Features
We can extend this simple setup by:
- Implementing more sophisticated WAF rules: Identify further difficult attacks like remote code implementation or path traversal.
- Using advanced encryption techniques: Protect the communication among web clients and the server.
- Simulating insider threats: Assess the system against attacks inventing from within the network.
- Integrating with external security systems: Mimic the integration of the network with an Event Management (SIEM) system, and Security Information.
Over this page, we had executed detailed informations and process on how to execute the Network Web Security in the tool OMNeT++. More details will be offered according to your needs. We are engaged in the implementation of Network Web Security using the OMNeT++ tool. Explore additional project ideas we are developing, which include cross-site scripting (XSS), unauthorized access, denial of service (DoS) attacks, and SQL injection