To simulate an HPing3 SYN Flood attack using OMNeT++ has needs to comprises simulating the behaviour of a SYN flood attack, in which the attacker transmits a high volume of TCP SYN packets to a target system (server) in a try to overwhelm its resources. This kind of attack utilizes the TCP handshake by inducting many half-open connections that can consume the server’s capacity to manage the legitimate connections.
In this simulation, we will emulate a SYN flood attack using OMNeT++ in conjunction with the INET framework, thereby mimicking the functionality of the HPing3 tool, which is typically employed for such attacks. Below is a guide on how to create a SYN flood attack project utilizing OMNeT++.
For optimal simulation insights, phdprime.com offers valuable project ideas and topics , sp get best project guidance from us.
Steps to Simulate HPing3 SYN Flood Attack Projects in OMNeT++
- Set Up OMNeT++ and INET Framework
- Install OMNeT++: We can download OMNeT++ from the OMNeT++ official site.
- Install INET Framework: The INET framework is necessary since it offers TCP or IP and other network protocol models that are needed for mimicking internet-based attacks such as SYN flood. Download it from the INET GitHub page or install it using OMNeT++’s package manager.
- Understand SYN Flood Attack
A SYN Flood attack functions by transmitting a flood of TCP SYN packets to a target, inducting numerous incomplete TCP handshakes (half-open connections). The target system, frequently a server, assigns resources for each incoming connection, eventually running out of resources and becoming unobtainable for legitimate users.
Key steps in a SYN Flood attack:
- SYN packet transmitted from the attacker to the target.
- The target reacts with a SYN-ACK packet.
- The attacker never finishes the handshake (by not sending the ACK), exit the connection in an open state.
In OMNeT++, we will be mimicked the attacker transmitting a large amount of SYN packets to a server.
- Define the Network Topology (NED File)
Make a network topology with a server, an attacker, and possibly a few legitimate clients. The attacker will transmit SYN packets to the server, and the legitimate clients will attempt to communicate with the server in the course of the attack.
Example NED File for SYN Flood Attack Simulation:
network SYNFloodAttackNetwork
{
submodules:
client: StandardHost {
@display(“i=device/pc”);
}
attacker: StandardHost {
@display(“i=device/laptop”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“i=abstract/router”);
}
server: StandardHost {
@display(“i=device/server”);
}
connections:
client.pppg++ <–> PointToPointLink <–> router.pppg++;
attacker.pppg++ <–> PointToPointLink <–> router.pppg++;
server.pppg++ <–> PointToPointLink <–> router.pppg++;
}
In this topology:
- client is a legitimate user attempting to communicate with the server.
- attacker is the node generating the SYN flood attack.
- router associates all the nodes in the network.
- server is the attempt of the attack.
- Configure Legitimate Traffic between Client and Server
To replicate normal traffic, the client will transmit legitimate TCP requests to the server. These can set up to ascertain a connection and exchange information using the TCP protocol.
Example Configuration for Client in omnetpp.ini:
[General]
network = SYNFloodAttackNetwork
sim-time-limit = 100s
# Legitimate traffic from client to server (HTTP-like traffic)
*.client.numTcpApps = 1
*.client.tcpApp[0].typename = “TcpBasicClientApp”
*.client.tcpApp[0].connectAddress = “server”
*.client.tcpApp[0].connectPort = 80
*.client.tcpApp[0].sendBytes = 100000 # Send 100KB of data
# Configure the server to respond to legitimate traffic
*.server.numTcpApps = 1
*.server.tcpApp[0].typename = “TcpBasicServerApp”
*.server.tcpApp[0].localPort = 80
- Implement SYN Flood Attack on the Attacker Node
We will now execute the SYN flood attack by replicating the behaviour of the HPing3 tool. The attacker will endlessly transmit TCP SYN packets to the server without finishing the handshake.
Example C++ Code for SYN Flood Attack:
class SYNFloodAttacker : public cSimpleModule
{
private:
simtime_t floodInterval; // Interval between SYN packets
cMessage *floodTimer; // Timer to schedule the next SYN packet
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
void sendSYNPacket();
};
void SYNFloodAttacker::initialize()
{
floodInterval = par(“floodInterval”); // Get interval from .ini file
floodTimer = new cMessage(“floodTimer”);
scheduleAt(simTime(), floodTimer); // Start the attack immediately
}
void SYNFloodAttacker::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)
{
if (msg == floodTimer) {
sendSYNPacket();
scheduleAt(simTime() + floodInterval, floodTimer); // Schedule the next SYN packet
}
}
void SYNFloodAttacker::sendSYNPacket()
{
cPacket *synPacket = new cPacket(“SYNFloodPacket”);
// Set up the packet as a TCP SYN packet (you can model it to include proper TCP headers)
synPacket->setByteLength(40); // Basic SYN packet size
EV << “Sending SYN flood packet to the server” << endl;
send(synPacket, “out”); // Send the SYN packet towards the server
}
In this code:
- floodInterval ascertains how frequently the attacker transmits SYN packets.
- floodTimer schedules the repeated transmitting of SYN packets.
- sendSYNPacket() makes and sends a SYN packet (modeled as a basic TCP packet) to overwhelm the server.
- Configure SYN Flood Attack in omnetpp.ini
Set up the attacker in the .ini file to endlessly send SYN packets to the server.
Example Configuration for SYN Flood Attack in omnetpp.ini:
[General]
network = SYNFloodAttackNetwork
sim-time-limit = 100s
# Configure attacker to send SYN flood packets to the server
*.attacker.numApps = 1
*.attacker.app[0].typename = “SYNFloodAttacker”
*.attacker.app[0].floodInterval = 0.01s # Send SYN packets every 0.01 seconds
# Configure legitimate client-server communication
*.client.numTcpApps = 1
*.client.tcpApp[0].typename = “TcpBasicClientApp”
*.client.tcpApp[0].connectAddress = “server”
*.client.tcpApp[0].connectPort = 80
*.client.tcpApp[0].sendBytes = 100000 # Legitimate traffic from client to server
# Server setup to handle legitimate traffic
*.server.numTcpApps = 1
*.server.tcpApp[0].typename = “TcpBasicServerApp”
*.server.tcpApp[0].localPort = 80
In this setup:
- The attacker transmits SYN packets to the server every 0.01 seconds to mimic a SYN flood.
- The client transmits legitimate traffic to the server that the server attempts to manage in the course of the attack.
- Run the Simulation
After configuring the network and setting up both the legitimate traffic and the SYN flood attack, we can run the simulation using OMNeT++.
- Qtenv or Tkenv: Utilize OMNeT++’s graphical interface to observe the attack and monitor the effects on the server’s ability to manage the legitimate traffic.
- Performance Metrics: Estimate the amount of half-open connections on the server, the packet loss, delays in response time, and the overall influence of the attack.
- Analyse the Results
After running the simulation, we investigate the following parameters:
- Server Resource Exhaustion: Verify how many half-open connections the server can be managed before becoming unresponsive to legitimate traffic.
- Legitimate Traffic Impact: Assess the delays and packet loss experienced by the legitimate client attempting to communicate with the server.
- Traffic Volume: Estimate the volume of SYN packets are transmitted by the attacker and how this influences the server’s response times.
- Extend the Simulation
We can expand the SYN flood attack simulation in the following ways:
- Distributed SYN Flood Attack (DDoS): Replicate several attackers concurrently transmitting SYN packets to the server.
- Mitigation Techniques: Execute defense mechanisms like SYN cookies, firewalls, or rate-limiting to avoid the attack from overwhelming the server.
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS): Execute an IDS that identifies abnormal traffic patterns (e.g., a high volume of SYN packets) and raises alerts.
Example Project Structure:
SYNFloodAttackSimulation/
├── src/
│ └── SYNFloodAttackNetwork.ned # Network topology for SYN flood attack
│ └── SYNFloodAttacker.cc # SYN flood attacker implementation
├── omnetpp.ini # Simulation configuration
└── Makefile # Build file for compiling the project
In this simulation, we had effectively executed the above simulation techniques that containing relevant instances with example project structures are useful to simulate and analyse the HPing3 SYN Flood Attack Projects utilising OMNeT++. If you require additional data regarding this topic, we will share with you
