To simulate botnets using OMNeT++ that contains making a network in which several nodes (bots) are managed by a botmaster to execute coordinated malicious activities, like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, data theft, or spamming. A botnet normally encompasses compromised devices, which are remotely controlled to perform large-scale attacks.
Key Components for a Botnet Simulation:
- Botmaster (Command & Control Server): The central node that manages the bots and transmits commands.
- Bots (Compromised Nodes): Devices that infected by the botnet that execute actions as directed by the botmaster.
- Target: The target of the botnet’s attack, like a server or a network, which is aimed by coordinated actions from the bots.
- Communication Channel: The medium via which the botmaster transmits commands to the bots (can be through TCP, UDP, or even HTTP in furthered simulations).
Step-by-Step Guide to Simulate Botnets Using OMNeT++:
- Install OMNeT++ and INET Framework
- Download and install OMNeT++ from here on the system.
- Download and install the INET framework from INET GitHub repository. INET framework offers a broad range of tools for network communication simulation that can be utilized to replicate botnet behaviour.
- Understand Botnet Functionality
Botnets typically work in the following way:
- Bots are infected devices, which receive commands from the botmaster.
- Botmaster is the central authority that transmits commands to the bots, like introducing DDoS attacks or harvesting data.
- The bots coordinate with each other to implement the large-scale attacks, like flooding a victim server with traffic.
General attacks are replicating in botnet scenarios:
- DDoS attacks: Bots coordinate to flood a victim server with traffic.
- Spamming: Bots transmit a large volume of unsolicited emails.
- Data exfiltration: Bots gather sensitive data from the network and transmit it to the botmaster.
- Set Up Network Topology in NED
Describe a network with several bots, a botmaster, and a target. The bots receive commands from the botmaster and implement attacks on the target.
Example NED File for Botnet Simulation:
network BotnetSimulation {
submodules:
botmaster: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
bot[10]: StandardHost { // 10 bots (compromised devices)
@display(“p=” + (150 + index * 30) + “,300”);
}
target: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,200”);
}
connections allowunconnected:
botmaster.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> bot[0].ethg++;
botmaster.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> bot[1].ethg++;
botmaster.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> bot[2].ethg++;
for i=0..9 {
bot[i].ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> target.ethg++;
}
connections:
for i=0..9 {
botmaster.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> bot[i].ethg++;
}
}
Explanation:
- Botmaster: The node that manages the bots.
- Bots: A set of 10 compromised devices, which receive commands from the botmaster.
- Target: The server that will be attacked by the botnet.
- The bots and the botmaster communicate over Ethernet, however we can utilize wireless or more complex topologies based on the simulation.
- Configure Legitimate and Malicious Traffic
We can set up the legitimate traffic among the bots and the botmaster to replicate the command and control (C&C) channel. Also, we can set up malicious traffic among the bots and the target.
Example omnetpp.ini Configuration:
[General]
network = BotnetSimulation
sim-time-limit = 100s
# Configure the target server (victim)
**.target.numApps = 1
**.target.app[0].typename = “TcpServerApp”
**.target.app[0].localPort = 80
# Configure the botmaster (controller of bots)
**.botmaster.numApps = 1
**.botmaster.app[0].typename = “BotmasterControlApp” # Custom app to send commands to bots
# Configure bots to receive commands and execute attacks
**.bot[*].numApps = 1
**.bot[*].app[0].typename = “BotApp” # Custom bot app to receive commands from botmaster
**.bot[*].app[0].targetAddress = “target” # Bots will target this server
**.bot[*].app[0].commandInterval = uniform(2s, 5s) # Bots wait for commands at random intervals
- BotmasterControlApp: The botmaster transmits commands to the bots over a communication channel.
- BotApp: The bots receive the commands and implement them by transmitting traffic (e.g., launching DDoS attacks) toward the target.
- Implement Custom Botmaster and Bot Applications
We can make custom applications to replicate the botmaster transmitting commands and the bots performing coordinated attacks.
Example BotmasterControlApp (Botmaster Application):
#include “inet/applications/base/ApplicationBase.h”
#include “inet/networklayer/common/L3AddressResolver.h”
#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”
class BotmasterControlApp : public inet::ApplicationBase {
protected:
virtual void initialize(int stage) override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
virtual void sendBotCommand(int botIndex);
public:
BotmasterControlApp() {}
virtual ~BotmasterControlApp() {}
};
Define_Module(BotmasterControlApp);
void BotmasterControlApp::initialize(int stage) {
if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {
// Send commands to bots at the start of the simulation
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
scheduleAt(simTime() + uniform(1, 3), new cMessage(“sendBotCommand”));
}
}
}
void BotmasterControlApp::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
sendBotCommand(intuniform(0, 9)); // Send command to a random bot
delete msg;
}
void BotmasterControlApp::sendBotCommand(int botIndex) {
// Create a command packet
inet::Packet *packet = new inet::Packet(“BotCommand”);
// Set the target bot address
auto controlInfo = new inet::Ipv4ControlInfo();
controlInfo->setDestAddr(inet::L3AddressResolver().resolve(“bot[” + std::to_string(botIndex) + “]”));
packet->setControlInfo(controlInfo);
// Send the command packet to the bot
send(packet, “out”);
}
Example BotApp (Bot Application):
#include “inet/applications/base/ApplicationBase.h”
#include “inet/networklayer/common/L3AddressResolver.h”
#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”
class BotApp : public inet::ApplicationBase {
protected:
virtual void initialize(int stage) override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
virtual void executeAttack();
public:
BotApp() {}
virtual ~BotApp() {}
};
Define_Module(BotApp);
void BotApp::initialize(int stage) {
if (stage == inet::INITSTAGE_APPLICATION_LAYER) {
// Wait for commands from botmaster
scheduleAt(simTime() + par(“commandInterval”).doubleValue(), new cMessage(“waitCommand”));
}
}
void BotApp::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “waitCommand”) == 0) {
executeAttack();
}
delete msg;
}
void BotApp::executeAttack() {
// Create an attack packet targeting the server
inet::Packet *attackPacket = new inet::Packet(“AttackPacket”);
// Set the destination as the target server
auto controlInfo = new inet::Ipv4ControlInfo();
controlInfo->setDestAddr(inet::L3AddressResolver().resolve(“target”));
attackPacket->setControlInfo(controlInfo);
// Send the attack packet to the target
send(attackPacket, “out”);
}
- BotmasterControlApp transmits commands to each bot, telling them when to start the attack.
- BotApp listens for commands from the botmaster, and when received then it is introduces an attack (such as sending a large number of packets) toward the target.
- Simulate DDoS Attack
In this simulation, each bot will flood the target server with traffic when they receive the command from the botmaster.
Example DDoS Attack with omnetpp.ini:
# Configure bots to execute a DDoS attack on the target
**.bot[*].app[0].attackType = “DDoS”
**.bot[*].app[0].attackInterval = uniform(0.1s, 0.5s) # Bots send traffic at random intervals
We can modify the attackInterval to manage how rapid and how much traffic the bots are transmit toward the target.
- Monitor and Capture Traffic
To monitor the DDoS attack, permit packet capture and examine the traffic using Wireshark or OMNeT++’s built-in analysis tools.
Enable Packet Capture:
# Enable packet capture to analyze botnet traffic
**.pcapRecorder.enable = true
**.pcapRecorder.packetFilter = “all”
**.pcapRecorder.file = “output/botnet_attack.pcap”
It will generate a .pcap file, which can be opened in Wireshark to investigate the botnet’s attack on the target.
- Run the Simulation
We can run the simulation in OMNeT++ to monitor how the botmaster transmits commands to the bots, and how the bots organize to flood the target with traffic.
- Analyze Results
When the simulation is finish then we investigate the following parameters:
- Packet rate: How many packets the bots transmit toward the target.
- Impact on target: Estimate if the target server drops packets, experiences delays, or crashes because of the flood of traffic.
- Botmaster communication: Monitor how effectively the botmaster communicates with the bots.
- Extend the Simulation
We can expand the botnet simulation by inserting more complex behaviours:
- Command and Control Protocols: Utilize more sophisticated communication protocols among the botmaster and bots (e.g., HTTP, encryption).
- Advanced Attacks: Replicate data exfiltration, spamming, or phishing attacks rather than just DDoS.
- Detection and Mitigation: Execute defenses such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) or rate limiting on the target to mitigate the attack.
Example Projects for Botnet Simulation:
- DDoS Botnet Simulation: Replicate a botnet, which introduces a coordinated DDoS attack on a server and compute its effectiveness.
- Botnet Command and Control Communication: Replicate the communication among a botmaster and bots, utilizing advanced C&C protocols such as HTTP or custom encrypted messages.
- Mitigating Botnet Attacks: Execute and experiment network defenses like firewalls, rate limiting, or IDS to mitigate botnet attacks.
- Peer-to-Peer Botnets: Mimic a more advanced botnet in which the bots are communicate in a peer-to-peer fashion rather than depending on a central botmaster.
We had executed more details and some instance coding related to Botnets Projects that can be simulated using OMNeT++ tool. We will also delivere further informations regarding this topic.
Our developers have diligently worked on all the concepts related to botnets within the OMNeT++ tool. We encourage you to stay connected with us for insights and guidance on new topics. Drop a mail to get best simulation guidance.
