To implement the Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) in ns3, we have to simulate the refined and cautious cyber-attacks that should be carried through a long period. APTs are categorised by their ability to avoid detection and maintain long-term access to the target network. The key stages of an APT: initial intrusion, lateral movement, data exfiltration, and evasion techniques. Here’s an extended guide on how to implement the Advanced Persistent Threats in the ns3:
Step-by-Step Implementation
Step 1: Set Up the ns3 Environment
Make certain, that ns3 is installed on your computer.
Step 2: Define the Network Topology
Create a network topology that contains multiple nodes, links, and their configurations:
#include “ns3/core-module.h”
#include “ns3/network-module.h”
#include “ns3/internet-module.h”
#include “ns3/point-to-point-module.h”
#include “ns3/applications-module.h”
using namespace ns3;
NS_LOG_COMPONENT_DEFINE (“AptExample”);
int main (int argc, char *argv[]) {
CommandLine cmd;
cmd.Parse (argc, argv);
// Create nodes
NodeContainer nodes;
nodes.Create (6); // Nodes for target network and attacker
// Create point-to-point links
PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;
pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute (“DataRate”, StringValue (“5Mbps”));
pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute (“Delay”, StringValue (“2ms”));
NetDeviceContainer devices;
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (0), nodes.Get (1))));
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (1), nodes.Get (2))));
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (2), nodes.Get (3))));
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (3), nodes.Get (4))));
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (4), nodes.Get (5))));
// Install Internet stack
InternetStackHelper stack;
stack.Install (nodes);
// Assign IP addresses
Ipv4AddressHelper address;
address.SetBase (“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
address.Assign (devices.Get (0));
address.Assign (devices.Get (1));
address.Assign (devices.Get (2));
address.Assign (devices.Get (3));
address.Assign (devices.Get (4));
// Create and configure applications…
Simulator::Run ();
Simulator::Destroy ();
return 0;
}
Step 3: Implement Initial Intrusion
Simulate the initial intrusion by creating an application that feats liability to gain access to a node:
class InitialIntrusion : public Application {
public:
InitialIntrusion () : m_socket (0) {}
virtual ~InitialIntrusion () {}
protected:
virtual void StartApplication () {
m_socket = Socket::CreateSocket (GetNode (), TcpSocketFactory::GetTypeId ());
m_peer = InetSocketAddress (Ipv4Address (“10.1.1.2”), 9); // Target node
m_socket->Connect (m_peer);
Simulator::Schedule (Seconds (2.0), &InitialIntrusion::SendExploit, this);
}
virtual void StopApplication () {
if (m_socket) {
m_socket->Close ();
m_socket = 0;
}
}
private:
void SendExploit () {
std::string exploitData = “exploit-pattern”; // Simplified exploit pattern
Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet> ((uint8_t*)exploitData.c_str (), exploitData.size ());
m_socket->Send (packet);
}
Ptr<Socket> m_socket;
Address m_peer;
};
Step 4: Implement Lateral Movement
We create an application that simulates lateral movement to travel from one node to another:
class LateralMovement : public Application {
public:
LateralMovement () : m_socket (0) {}
virtual ~LateralMovement () {}
protected:
virtual void StartApplication () {
m_socket = Socket::CreateSocket (GetNode (), TcpSocketFactory::GetTypeId ());
m_peer = InetSocketAddress (Ipv4Address (“10.1.1.3”), 9); // Next target node
m_socket->Connect (m_peer);
Simulator::Schedule (Seconds (4.0), &LateralMovement::SendExploit, this);
}
virtual void StopApplication () {
if (m_socket) {
m_socket->Close ();
m_socket = 0;
}
}
private:
void SendExploit () {
std::string exploitData = “exploit-pattern”; // Simplified exploit pattern
Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet> ((uint8_t*)exploitData.c_str (), exploitData.size ());
m_socket->Send (packet);
}
Ptr<Socket> m_socket;
Address m_peer;
};
Step 5: Implement Data Exfiltration
Create an application that simulates data exfiltration to extract data form the conceded nodes:
class DataExfiltration : public Application {
public:
DataExfiltration () : m_socket (0) {}
virtual ~DataExfiltration () {}
protected:
virtual void StartApplication () {
m_socket = Socket::CreateSocket (GetNode (), TcpSocketFactory::GetTypeId ());
m_peer = InetSocketAddress (Ipv4Address (“10.1.1.5”), 9); // Exfiltration node
m_socket->Connect (m_peer);
Simulator::Schedule (Seconds (6.0), &DataExfiltration::ExfiltrateData, this);
}
virtual void StopApplication () {
if (m_socket) {
m_socket->Close ();
m_socket = 0;
}
}
private:
void ExfiltrateData () {
std::string exfilData = “sensitive-data”; // Simplified data
Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet> ((uint8_t*)exfilData.c_str (), exfilData.size ());
m_socket->Send (packet);
}
Ptr<Socket> m_socket;
Address m_peer;
};
Step 6: Implement Evasion Techniques
Use modifying packets to simulate evasion techniques to avoid detection:
class EvasionTechniques : public Application {
public:
EvasionTechniques () : m_socket (0) {}
virtual ~EvasionTechniques () {}
protected:
virtual void StartApplication () {
m_socket = Socket::CreateSocket (GetNode (), TcpSocketFactory::GetTypeId ());
m_peer = InetSocketAddress (Ipv4Address (“10.1.1.4”), 9); // Node to avoid detection
m_socket->Connect (m_peer);
Simulator::Schedule (Seconds (8.0), &EvasionTechniques::SendEvadedPacket, this);
}
virtual void StopApplication () {
if (m_socket) {
m_socket->Close ();
m_socket = 0;
}
}
private:
void SendEvadedPacket () {
std::string evadedData = “evaded-pattern”; // Simplified evasion pattern
Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet> ((uint8_t*)evadedData.c_str (), evadedData.size ());
m_socket->Send (packet);
}
Ptr<Socket> m_socket;
Address m_peer;
};
Step 7: Deploy the APT Applications
In the network, instantiate and execute these applications on the suitable nodes:
int main (int argc, char *argv[]) {
CommandLine cmd;
cmd.Parse (argc, argv);
// Create nodes
NodeContainer nodes;
nodes.Create (6); // Nodes for target network and attacker
// Create point-to-point links
PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;
pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute (“DataRate”, StringValue (“5Mbps”));
pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute (“Delay”, StringValue (“2ms”));
NetDeviceContainer devices;
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (0), nodes.Get (1))));
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (1), nodes.Get (2))));
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (2), nodes.Get (3))));
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (3), nodes.Get (4))));
devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (NodeContainer (nodes.Get (4), nodes.Get (5))));
// Install Internet stack
InternetStackHelper stack;
stack.Install (nodes);
// Assign IP addresses
Ipv4AddressHelper address;
address.SetBase (“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
address.Assign (devices.Get (0));
address.Assign (devices.Get (1));
address.Assign (devices.Get (2));
address.Assign (devices.Get (3));
address.Assign (devices.Get (4));
// Create and configure the InitialIntrusion application
Ptr<InitialIntrusion> initialIntrusion = CreateObject<InitialIntrusion> ();
nodes.Get (0)->AddApplication (initialIntrusion);
initialIntrusion->SetStartTime (Seconds (1.0));
initialIntrusion->SetStopTime (Seconds (10.0));
// Create and configure the LateralMovement application
Ptr<LateralMovement> lateralMovement = CreateObject<LateralMovement> ();
nodes.Get (1)->AddApplication (lateralMovement);
lateralMovement->SetStartTime (Seconds (2.0));
lateralMovement->SetStopTime (Seconds (10.0));
// Create and configure the DataExfiltration application
Ptr<DataExfiltration> dataExfiltration = CreateObject<DataExfiltration> ();
nodes.Get (3)->AddApplication (dataExfiltration);
dataExfiltration->SetStartTime (Seconds (4.0));
dataExfiltration->SetStopTime (Seconds (10.0));
// Create and configure the EvasionTechniques application
Ptr<EvasionTechniques> evasionTechniques = CreateObject<EvasionTechniques> ();
nodes.Get (4)->AddApplication (evasionTechniques);
evasionTechniques->SetStartTime (Seconds (6.0));
evasionTechniques->SetStopTime (Seconds (10.0));
Simulator::Run ();
Simulator::Destroy ();
return 0;
}
As we discussed earlier, you can now utterly learned about everything that includes installation, implementation, how to avoid threats of Advanced persistent threats in the ns3 tool. For further references, we can help you to understand relevant to this topic. Seek assistance in implementing Advanced Persistent Threats within the ns3 simulation framework for your project. We provide comparative analysis in this field; please share all relevant project details with us for further support.