To simulate a sniffer attack using OPNET, we can set up a network situation in which an attacker attempts to seize and examine the network traffic traversing a shared medium or network segment. A sniffer attack or packet sniffing that contains intercepting packets to get helpful data like IP addresses, login credentials, or session data.
Following is a step-by-step instruction to simulate a sniffer attack in OPNET:
Steps to Simulate Sniffer Attack Projects in OPNET
- Set Up OPNET Environment
- Make a new project, and name it depends on the focus like “Sniffer Attack Simulation” in OPNET Modeler.
- Configure the project workspace and then select the network type such as LAN or WLAN, according to the environment of simulation.
- Design Network Topology
- Make a topology that contains servers, routers, client devices like workstations, mobile devices, and insert one or more attacker nodes.
- Link the devices including proper links such as wired for LAN or Wi-Fi for WLAN. If we are learning a shared medium like Wi-Fi then in range of the target devices locate the attacker node.
- Set Up Legitimate Traffic
- Set up diverse kinds of applications making legitimate traffic that the attacker will try to intercept:
- HTTP or HTTPS mimicking login pages or regular web traffic for web browsing.
- Email (SMTP, POP3, or IMAP) to replicate transmitting and receiving emails.
- FTP for file transfers.
- In Application Configuration, to describe traffic applications that could normally obtain sensitive information. Configure realistic traffic rates and packet sizes.
- Configure Traffic Profiles
- Allocate the applications to certain user devices like workstations or mobile devices, mimicking realistic network behavior in Profile Configuration.
- Describe traffic patterns that contains session times, packet sizes, and data transfer intervals, deliberating regular network usage, which the attacker will sniff.
- Place the Attacker Node in Promiscuous Mode
- Set up the attacker node like a sniffer by allowing it to seize every packet at the network segment:
- Wired Network: Locate the attacker node at the similar LAN segment or at the back of a hub in which traffic is transmit to every device.
- Wireless Network: In range of Wi-Fi-enabled devices, place the attacker to seize packets at the shared wireless medium.
- Allow promiscuous mode (if supported) permitting the attacker node to seize packets not addressed to it directly.
- Enable Packet Capture on the Attacker Node
- Set up packet capture at the attacker node recording and examining packets since they traverse the network:
- For packet details like source and destination IP addresses, packet size, protocol type, and payload information, configure data collection.
- Concentrate on certain traffic types like HTTP or FTP in which sensitive data may be available within plaintext.
- If the simulation permits then utilize filters to seize certain kinds of traffic like credentials or session tokens.
- Set Up Performance Metrics and Data Collection
- Describe performance parameters to estimate the sniffer attack’s efficiency:
- Captured Packets: Observe the number of packets that are intercepted using the attacker node.
- Protocol Analysis: Monitor protocols such as HTTP, FTP are utilized within captured packets detecting potentially sensitive traffic.
- Packet Content Analysis: If possible then examine captured payload information to get valuable data like HTTP headers or email content.
- Source and Destination Analysis: Observe the source and destination addresses detecting critical interaction pairs.
- Run the Simulation
- In OPNET, we execute the simulation monitoring how the attacker node intercepts packets since they pass through the network.
- OPNET will be replicated packet exchanges among devices, to permit the attacker node seizing traffic flowing via the network.
- Analyze Results
- Measure the efficiency of sniffer attack utilizing OPNET’s analysis tools:
- Volume of Captured Traffic: Confirm the total number of packets that are captured using the attacker node estimating the extent of intercepted traffic.
- Sensitive Data Exposure: Verifying for sensitive data, like unencrypted HTTP data or FTP credentials to examine captured packet content.
- Protocol Breakdown: Detect the kinds of protocols captured like HTTP, FTP finding if any sensitive traffic is uncovered.
- Communication Patterns: Deliberate source and destination addresses acquiring insights into crucial network relationships or potential targets.
- Experiment with Defense Mechanisms (Optional)
- Experiment how encrypting protocols impacts the success of attack by allowing secure versions like HTTPS for web traffic or SFTP for file transfers.
- For sensitive traffic, set up an IPsec or VPN tunneling monitoring how encryption minimizes the volume of readable information in captured packets.
- Observe whether the sniffer can even seize metadata like packet size and timing, whereas to avoid access to real content.
In conclusion, we had shown above simulation procedure that helps you to understand the concept and the way to approach and simulate the Sniffer Attack Projects using OPNET environment. We can give you the information regarding this process, if you need it.
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