To simulate active attacks using OPNET, we need to configure situations in which an attacker node directly disrupts, changes, or intercepts network interaction. Active attacks able to contain Denial of Service (DoS), packet injection, man-in-the-middle (MITM), and spoofing attacks, all of which reduce the network performance, disrupts the legitimate traffic, or compromise data integrity.
Below is a sequential process on how to simulate active attacks in OPNET:
Steps to Simulate Active Attacks Projects in OPNET
- Set Up OPNET Environment
- Make a new project then name it based on the focus like “Active Attack Simulation” in OPNET Modeler.
- Set up the workspace including proper network topology and settings, to replicate a realistic environment along with legitimate clients, servers, and attacker nodes.
- Design Network Topology
- Make a network topology, which encompasses:
- Target servers: These should be web servers, application servers, or database, which are subject to the active attacks.
- Client devices: Workstations or mobile devices mimicking legitimate traffic.
- Routers and gateways: We replicate internet or local network infrastructure.
- Attacker nodes: Nodes set up to execute several active attacks at the target network.
- Link all devices including proper links like wired or wireless making a realistic network configuration.
- Configure Legitimate Network Traffic
- Configure regular interaction among clients and servers replicating normal network activity. Describe general applications in Application Configuration, like:
- HTTP/HTTPS for web browsing.
- FTP for file transfers.
- VoIP for real-time interaction.
- Allocate these applications to client devices to make typical traffic flow, which can be impacted by way of the active attacks utilizing Profile Configuration.
- Simulate Different Types of Active Attacks
- Denial of Service (DoS) Attack
- Objective: To deliberate the target server or network by means of flooding it along with excessive traffic.
- Configuration:
- Set up the attacker node transmitting high-frequency requests like TCP SYN packets, HTTP requests, or UDP packets to the target.
- Configure a high packet-sending rate replicating a flood, which consumes server resources and interrupts legitimate connections.
- Observation:
- We observe the server response times, throughput, and connection failures monitoring how the attack reduces the network performance.
- Packet Injection Attack
- Objective: Add unauthorized packets to the network, to interrupt sessions potentially or distributing malicious content.
- Configuration:
- Configure the attacker node transmitting custom-crafted packets such as TCP, UDP, or ICMP to the target server or client devices.
- Set up certain packet attributes like source/destination IP, port, payload simulating legitimate traffic or insert malicious data.
- Observation:
- Monitor modifications within network performance and in interaction any anomalies like dropped packets or changed data flows by reason of injected packets.
- Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack
- Objective: Interrupt and modify interactions among two nodes without its knowledge.
- Configuration:
- Locate the attacker node among the client and server or set up it as a proxy, which relays and influences traffic.
- We seize and change the packets optionally to permit the attacker modifying or in transit read information.
- Observation:
- Observe intercepted traffic, to monitor session information and potential changes created by the attacker. If data is changed then verify for changes within response times and error rates.
- Spoofing Attack
- Objective: Mimic a legitimate device by counterfeiting IP or MAC addresses to interrupt interaction or obtain unauthorized access.
- Configuration:
- In the network, set up the attacker node utilizing a spoofed source IP or MAC address equating a legitimate device.
- Transmit packets from the attacker to crucial network devices like routers or servers, mimicking the legitimate device.
- Observation:
- Confirm for duplicate IP/MAC conflicts or connection drops since in legitimate sessions the network tries managing conflicting addresses, directing disruptions.
- Set Up Attack Parameters and Timing
- Describe attack parameters managing frequency, duration, and intensity:
- High-Intensity Attacks: Increase disruption utilizing fast and continuous packet transmitting.
- Stealthier Attacks: Lower the attack frequency or randomize timing intervals replicating harder-to-detect attacks.
- Schedule attacks after legitimate traffic have been launched to initiate, before and during the attack permitting to equate the network performance.
- Enable Data Collection for Monitoring and Analysis
- Configure data collection observing the active attacks’ effect on network resources and performance:
- Throughput: Estimate the traffic volume at the target server and network links identifying increases by reason of attack traffic.
- CPU and Memory Utilization: Monitor resource usage at the target server that particularly for DoS attacks, which could trigger high CPU and memory usage.
- Packet Loss and Latency: Observe packet loss and delays monitoring if the attack activates legitimate traffic to be dropped or delayed.
- Connection and Error Logs: For frequent errors, dropped connections, or failed authentications, to deliberate logs which could show spoofing or injection attacks.
- Run the Simulation
- In OPNET, execute the simulation then permit the attacker nodes performing its set up attacks. Observe how the network reactions in real time to the attacks.
- Monitor crucial parameters and data points, which particularly those relevant to resource consumption and connection stability at target devices.
- Analyze Results
- Measure the effect of each attack type on network performance utilizing OPNET’s analysis tools:
- Throughput and Bandwidth Utilization: Verify for excessive bandwidth usage that can show resource drain by reason of DoS or packet injection.
- CPU and Memory Utilization: Consider CPU and memory parameters at the target server estimating the strain triggered by active attacks.
- Error Rates and Latency: Analyse packet errors and delays, that particularly for MITM and spoofing attacks that may interrupt typical packet flow.
- Response Times and Packet Integrity: Monitor alters in response times and packet contents that may evoke data manipulation in MITM or packet injection attacks.
- Experiment with Attack Variations
- Modify attack intensity, frequency, and packet attributes mimicking diverse active attack situations:
- High-Intensity vs. Low-Intensity: Equate high-frequency attacks, which trigger immediate disruption along with lower-frequency attacks, which may move undetected longer.
- Multi-Protocol Attacks: Replicate attacks to aim concurrently several multiple protocols like TCP, UDP, and ICMP examining the ability to manage the compound attacks.
- Implement Countermeasures (Optional)
- Experiment numerous countermeasures monitoring its efficiency within mitigating active attacks:
- Rate Limiting and Traffic Shaping: Set up rate restrictions at the server or routers to limit the incoming request rates, and to avoid DoS attacks from devastating resources.
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS): Identify unusual patterns within traffic like repeated requests from a single source or spoofed addresses utilizing IDS.
- Encryption (SSL/TLS): Encode interaction channels defending versus MITM attacks, to make sure that attackers cannot simply read or change data in transit.
- MAC and IP Filtering: Execute the filters identifying and to block traffic from spoofed addresses, to minimize the impersonation attack’s efficiency.
In the above, we offered the thorough demonstration on how to simulate and examine the Active Attacks projects utilizing OPNET tool. For further references, we will provide details as per your requests. Receive complete, step-by-step support for your work from the pdprime.com team. Stay connected with us to excel in your research career.
