To simulate a spoofing attack using OPNET whereas observing the traffic including Wireshark, that has encompasses to set up a network situation in which an attacker attempts to imitate another device using spoofing IP or MAC addresses. This method permits to monitor how spoofed traffic performs within the network and how such attacks affect the legitimate interaction. We can comprehensively examine the attack seizing packets with Wireshark.
Below is a detailed procedure to configure and simulate a spoofing attack project using OPNET and Wireshark:
Steps to Simulate Spoofing Wireshark Projects in OPNET
- Set Up OPNET Environment
- Initially, we make a new project then name it based on the study like “Spoofing Attack Simulation” in OPNET Modeler.
- Configure a network topology that contains legitimate clients, servers, and routers. Insert one or more attacker nodes replicating the spoofing attack.
- Design Network Topology
- Make a network topology including numerous devices, like:
- For spoofed traffic, servers that denote the legitimate target.
- Clients that interaction with the servers, to make a typical traffic.
- Routers or switches that associate devices, to permit knowing how spoofed packets move via the network.
- Utilize wired or wireless links, associate devices according to the focus.
- Set Up Legitimate Traffic
- Set up legitimate applications like HTTP, FTP, or VoIP, for clients to interact with the server.
- We need to configure realistic traffic patterns that contain packet sizes, session intervals, and data rates denoting typical network operations under Application Configuration.
- This background traffic will support to monitor how the spoofing attack impacts the legitimate interactions.
- Configure Attacker Node for Spoofing
- Append an attacker node to the network replicating IP or MAC spoofing.
- Set up the attacker node along with the following settings:
- IP Spoofing: Configure the attacker node transmitting packets along with a forged source IP address, to imitate a legitimate client or server.
- MAC Spoofing: If replicating a MAC spoofing attack then set up the attacker to modify their MAC address to that of another device at the network, normally to bypass access control or to redirect traffic.
- Describe attack traffic like ICMP (ping requests), ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) requests, or TCP SYN packets including the spoofed IP or MAC address.
- Set Up the Attack Traffic
- Make a certain profile for the attacker node in Profile Configuration:
- ARP Spoofing Attack: Set up the attacker to transmit frequently ARP requests or replies along with a forged MAC address to corrupt the ARP cache of other devices. It should redirect packets proposed to the attacker for another device.
- TCP SYN Flooding with Spoofed IPs: Set up the attacker transmitting a high rate of SYN packets including forged source IPs to the server that should make half-open connections and exhausts resources.
- ICMP Flooding with Spoofed IPs: Configure the attacker to flood the target along with ICMP packets, every packet emerging from a divers IP address to create.
- Enable Wireshark for Packet Capture
- Launch Wireshark on the local machine otherwise set up a capture point in OPNET if supported.
- Seize only packets relevant to the spoofing attack to utilize Wireshark filters:
- For IP spoofing, use ip.src == <spoofed IP> observing the traffic emerging, from the forged IP address to arrive.
- For ARP spoofing, use arp.src.proto_ipv4 == <legitimate IP> and arp.src.hw_mac == <attacker MAC> to detect ARP poisoning.
- For MAC spoofing, use eth.src == <spoofed MAC> to seize packets from the forged MAC address.
- Wireshark can be simultaneously executed including the OPNET replication if we are seizing traffic from a real network. On the other hand, for offline analysis transfer captured traffic from OPNET to a pcap format within Wireshark.
- Enable Data Collection in OPNET for Analysis
- in OPNET, we can configure parameters to seize the spoofed packet’s effect:
- Network Throughput: Observe the bandwidth usage at the target device or server monitoring the traffic volume.
- Packet Loss: Monitor packet loss at the network that may maximize by reason of the spoofed packets to congest the target.
- Response Time: Estimate the reply time of legitimate clients monitoring if spoofed traffic initiates delays.
- Connection Drops: Monitor connection errors at the target server that may specify resource exhaustion by reason of a spoofed attack.
- Run the Simulation
- In OPNET, we can execute the simulation then observe the Wireshark to seize live traffic. Monitor how spoofed packets perform within the network and how they influence the legitimate traffic.
- OPNET will be replicated the flow of both legitimate and spoofed traffic to indicate how the attack impacts the network resources.
- Analyze the Results
- Examine captured packets for signs of spoofing utilizing Wireshark:
- Check for Anomalous IP or MAC Addresses: Search for packets with IP or MAC addresses, which arrive unusual or do not suit anticipated traffic.
- Review ARP Entries: If utilizing ARP spoofing then verify for repeated ARP requests or reactions from a single MAC address requesting to be several IP addresses.
- Examine Connection Attempts: Seek half-open connections to result from repeated SYN packets with spoofed IPs for SYN flooding.
- Measure the broader influence over network performance utilizing OPNET’s analysis tools, seek degraded service to legitimate clients, increased response times, and network congestion.
- Experiment with Countermeasures (Optional)
- Execute and experiment anti-spoofing methods monitoring how they moderate the attack:
- Access Control Lists (ACLs): Set up ACLs at routers to block traffic from known spoofed IPs or MAC addresses.
- Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI): Avoid ARP spoofing by authenticating MAC-IP mappings utilizing DAI at switches (if simulated).
- Rate Limiting and SYN Cookies: Allow rate restricting or SYN cookies at the target server to moderate the SYN flooding attacks.
- Re-execute the simulation measuring how these countermeasures influence the impact of attack.
We provided an innovative simulation methodology, executed through OPNET, has enabled an in-depth simulation and analysis of Spoofing Wireshark projects. Further details planned to provide in upcoming manual. To simulate a spoofing attack using OPNET you must drop us all your project needs we will check the feasibility and give you best assistance.
