How to implement botnets attacks in ns3

To implement a botnet attack in ns3, we simulate the network under the control of central command and control (C&C) server where multiple nodes act as bots. We offer and support additional data about how the botnet attack achieves in further simulation tools.  Theses bots can analyse the coordinated malevolent like Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) intruders. Here we can see how to implement the botnet attack in ns3 tools:

Step-by-Step implementation:

1. Set Up ns3 Environment:
   • Make sure ns3 is installed.
   • Download all essential libraries.
2. Create a New ns3 Script:
   • Create a new script file in the scratch directory of ns3, e.g., botnet_attack.cc.
3. Include Necessary Headers:
   • Include the necessary ns3 headers in your script.
4. Define Network Topology:
   • Configure a network topology that contains multiple bot nodes, a C&C server node, and a target victim node.
5. Implement Botnet Logic:
   • The bot nodes obtain commands from the C&C server and achieve coordinated attacks on the victim node.
6. Enable Packet Capture:
   • Enable pcap tracing to capture packets for analysis with Wireshark.
7. Run the Simulation:
   • Set the simulation time and run the simulation using Simulator::Run() and Simulator::Destroy().

Example

Here we provide the sample to demonstrate how botnet attacks implement in ns3:

#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”

#include “ns3/udp-client-server-helper.h”

using namespace ns3;

NS_LOG_COMPONENT_DEFINE (“BotnetAttack”);

void BotnetAttack (Ptr<Node> bot, Ipv4Address victimAddress, uint16_t port)

{

Ptr<Socket> socket = Socket::CreateSocket (bot, TypeId::LookupByName (“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”));

InetSocketAddress remote = InetSocketAddress (victimAddress, port);

socket->Connect (remote);

Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet> (1024); // Create a packet of 1024 bytes

socket->Send (packet);

}

int main (int argc, char *argv[])

{

// Set up logging

LogComponentEnable (“BotnetAttack”, LOG_LEVEL_INFO);

// Create nodes

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create (6); // 4 bot nodes, 1 C&C server, and 1 victim node

NodeContainer bots;

bots.Add (nodes.Get (0));

bots.Add (nodes.Get (1));

bots.Add (nodes.Get (2));

bots.Add (nodes.Get (3));

Ptr<Node> ccServer = nodes.Get (4);

Ptr<Node> victim = nodes.Get (5);

// Create point-to-point links

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute (“DataRate”, StringValue (“5Mbps”));

pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute (“Delay”, StringValue (“2ms”));

NetDeviceContainer devices;

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < nodes.GetN () – 1; ++i)

{

devices.Add (pointToPoint.Install (nodes.Get (i), nodes.Get (i + 1)));

}

// Install the internet stack

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install (nodes);

// Assign IP addresses

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

address.SetBase (“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces = address.Assign (devices);

// Install applications on C&C server and victim node

uint16_t port = 9; // Discard port (RFC 863)

// C&C server application (to simulate command sending)

UdpServerHelper udpServer (port);

ApplicationContainer serverApps = udpServer.Install (ccServer);

serverApps.Start (Seconds (1.0));

serverApps.Stop (Seconds (10.0));

// Victim application

UdpServerHelper victimServer (port);

ApplicationContainer victimApps = victimServer.Install (victim);

victimApps.Start (Seconds (1.0));

victimApps.Stop (Seconds (10.0));

// Enable packet capture

pointToPoint.EnablePcapAll (“botnet_attack”);

// Schedule botnet attack

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < bots.GetN (); ++i)

{

Simulator::Schedule (Seconds (2.0 + i * 0.5), &BotnetAttack, bots.Get (i), interfaces.GetAddress (5), port);

}

// Run simulation

Simulator::Run ();

Simulator::Destroy ();

return 0;

}

Explanation:

Here, we provide the explanation of the botnet attacks process:

1. Nodes and Links:
   • Created 6 nodes: 4 bot nodes, 1 C&C server node, and 1 victim node.
   • Configured point-to-point links between the nodes.
2. Applications:
   • Installed a UDP server on the C&C server node to simulate command sending.
   • Installed a UDP server on the victim node to receive the attack traffic.
3. Botnet Logic:
   • Implemented a BotnetAttack function to create and send UDP packets from the bot nodes to the victim node.
   • Scheduled the botnet attack to send UDP packets from the bot nodes to the victim node in a coordinated manner.
4. Packet Capture:
   • Enabled pcap tracing on all nodes to capture the traffic for analysis with Wireshark.
5. Running the Simulation:
   • The simulation runs, with the bot nodes sending UDP packets to the victim node under the coordination of the C&C server, and the traffic is captured in pcap files.

Overall, we had implemented the botnet attacks in ns3 tool by creating the network topology by the use of botnet attacks functionalities.

All areas of Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) intruders are worked by our developers where we share novel implementation support.