To implement the network vulnerability assessment in ns3 has needs to encompass to emulate the scenario wherever the nodes in the network are measures the possible security liabilities. This is usually encompasses to scanning for open ports, weak configurations, and other potential security issues. Here, we provide the comprehensive structure to implement and execute the network vulnerability assessment in ns3:
Step-by-Step Implementation:
Step 1: Set Up ns3 Environment
- Install ns3: Install and download the ns3 in the computer.
- Familiarize yourself with ns3: Read through the ns3 tutorial to understand the basic concepts and structure of ns3 simulations.
Step 2: Define the Network Topology
- Create a Network Topology: describe the network topology that contains nodes to be assessed, like servers and clients, and a vulnerability assessment node and basically it concludes to generating the numerous nodes, setting up channels, and configuring IP addresses. We’ll use a simple topology with a client, server, and a vulnerability assessment node.
Step 3: Implement Vulnerability Assessment Mechanisms
To execute the vulnerability assessment, we need to emulate the common techniques like port scanning, checking for default configurations, and weak authentication mechanisms.
Here, we provide the sample snippet for vulnerability in ns3:
C++ Code for ns-3 Simulation (main.cc)
#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 <iostream>
#include <fstream>
using namespace ns3;
void LogEvent(const std::string &event)
{
std::ofstream logFile;
logFile.open(“vulnerability_assessment_log.txt”, std::ios_base::app);
logFile << Simulator::Now().GetSeconds() << “: ” << event << std::endl;
logFile.close();
}
// Vulnerability Assessment application
class VulnerabilityAssessmentApp : public Application
{
public:
VulnerabilityAssessmentApp() {}
virtual ~VulnerabilityAssessmentApp() {}
void Setup(Address address, uint16_t port)
{
m_peerAddress = address;
m_peerPort = port;
}
private:
virtual void StartApplication()
{
m_socket = Socket::CreateSocket(GetNode(), TypeId::LookupByName(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”));
m_socket->Bind();
m_socket->Connect(InetSocketAddress(m_peerAddress, m_peerPort));
// Schedule the vulnerability assessments
Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(2.0), &VulnerabilityAssessmentApp::PortScan, this);
Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(5.0), &VulnerabilityAssessmentApp::CheckDefaultConfig, this);
Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(8.0), &VulnerabilityAssessmentApp::WeakAuthCheck, this);
}
virtual void StopApplication()
{
if (m_socket)
{
m_socket->Close();
m_socket = 0;
}
}
void PortScan()
{
std::cout << “Performing port scan at ” << Simulator::Now().GetSeconds() << ” seconds.” << std::endl;
LogEvent(“Performing port scan.”);
// Simulate port scan by sending packets to different ports
for (uint16_t port = 1; port <= 1024; ++port)
{
Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet>((uint8_t *)”Port scan”, 9);
m_socket->SendTo(packet, 0, InetSocketAddress(m_peerAddress, port));
}
}
void CheckDefaultConfig()
{
std::cout << “Checking for default configuration at ” << Simulator::Now().GetSeconds() << ” seconds.” << std::endl;
LogEvent(“Checking for default configuration.”);
// Simulate checking for default configurations by sending a specific payload
std::string payload = “Default config check”;
Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet>((uint8_t *)payload.c_str(), payload.size());
m_socket->Send(packet);
}
void WeakAuthCheck()
{
std::cout << “Checking for weak authentication at ” << Simulator::Now().GetSeconds() << ” seconds.” << std::endl;
LogEvent(“Checking for weak authentication.”);
// Simulate weak authentication check by sending a specific payload
std::string payload = “Weak auth check”;
Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet>((uint8_t *)payload.c_str(), payload.size());
m_socket->Send(packet);
}
Ptr<Socket> m_socket;
Address m_peerAddress;
uint16_t m_peerPort;
};
// Secure application
class SecureApp : public Application
{
public:
SecureApp() {}
virtual ~SecureApp() {}
void Setup(Address address, uint16_t port)
{
m_peerAddress = address;
m_peerPort = port;
}
private:
virtual void StartApplication()
{
m_socket = Socket::CreateSocket(GetNode(), TypeId::LookupByName(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”));
m_socket->Bind();
m_socket->Connect(InetSocketAddress(m_peerAddress, m_peerPort));
// Schedule the first packet transmission
Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(1.0), &SecureApp::SendPacket, this);
}
virtual void StopApplication()
{
if (m_socket)
{
m_socket->Close();
m_socket = 0;
}
}
void SendPacket()
{
std::string message = “Secure message”;
Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet>((uint8_t *)message.c_str(), message.size());
m_socket->Send(packet);
// Schedule the next packet transmission
Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(5.0), &SecureApp::SendPacket, this);
}
void ReceivePacket(Ptr<Socket> socket)
{
Ptr<Packet> packet = socket->Recv();
// Print received message (for demonstration purposes)
uint8_t buffer[1024];
packet->CopyData(buffer, packet->GetSize());
std::string receivedMessage((char *)buffer, packet->GetSize());
std::cout << “Received message: ” << receivedMessage << std::endl;
}
Ptr<Socket> m_socket;
Address m_peerAddress;
uint16_t m_peerPort;
};
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
NodeContainer nodes;
nodes.Create(3); // Example: 3 nodes (1 client, 1 server, 1 vulnerability assessment node)
PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;
pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“1Gbps”));
pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“2ms”));
NetDeviceContainer devices1 = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(2)); // Client to Vulnerability Assessment Node
NetDeviceContainer devices2 = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(2), nodes.Get(1)); // Vulnerability Assessment Node to Server
InternetStackHelper stack;
stack.Install(nodes);
Ipv4AddressHelper address;
address.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces1 = address.Assign(devices1);
address.SetBase(“10.1.2.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces2 = address.Assign(devices2);
Ipv4GlobalRoutingHelper::PopulateRoutingTables();
uint16_t port = 9;
Ptr<SecureApp> clientApp = CreateObject<SecureApp>();
clientApp->Setup(InetSocketAddress(interfaces2.GetAddress(1), port), port);
nodes.Get(0)->AddApplication(clientApp);
clientApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));
clientApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(60.0));
Ptr<SecureApp> serverApp = CreateObject<SecureApp>();
serverApp->Setup(InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address::GetAny(), port), port);
nodes.Get(1)->AddApplication(serverApp);
serverApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));
serverApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(60.0));
Ptr<VulnerabilityAssessmentApp> vulnerabilityApp = CreateObject<VulnerabilityAssessmentApp>();
vulnerabilityApp->Setup(InetSocketAddress(interfaces2.GetAddress(1), port));
nodes.Get(2)->AddApplication(vulnerabilityApp);
vulnerabilityApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));
vulnerabilityApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(60.0));
Simulator::Run();
Simulator::Destroy();
return 0;
}
Explanation
- Network Topology:
- The network consists of 3 nodes: a client, a server, and a vulnerability assessment node.
- The client connects to the vulnerability assessment node, which forwards packets to the server.
- Logging Function:
- LogEvent function logs significant events to a file for analysis and reporting.
- VulnerabilityAssessmentApp Class:
- This application performs different vulnerability assessments such as port scanning, checking for default configurations, and weak authentication mechanisms.
- Setup method initializes the application with the peer address and port.
- StartApplication method schedules the vulnerability assessments.
- PortScan method simulates a port scan by sending packets to different ports.
- CheckDefaultConfig method simulates checking for default configurations by sending a specific payload.
- WeakAuthCheck method simulates checking for weak authentication mechanisms by sending a specific payload.
- SecureApp Class:
- This application sends and receives secure messages.
- Setup method initializes the application with the peer address and port.
- StartApplication method sets up the socket connection and schedules packet transmission.
- SendPacket method sends a message to the peer node.
- ReceivePacket method receives and prints messages.
- Main Function:
- Generates a network with 3 nodes interrelated with point-to-point links.
- Sets up IP addresses for the nodes.
- Initializes the SecureApp applications on the client and server nodes.
- Initializes the VulnerabilityAssessmentApp application on the vulnerability assessment node.
- The client sends secure messages, the vulnerability assessment node performs assessments, and the server receives messages.
Compile and Run
- Compile the Code: Compile the ns3 simulation code using the following command:
g++ -std=c++11 -o ns3-network-vulnerability-assessment main.cc `pkg-config –cflags –libs ns3-dev`
- Run the Simulation: Execute the compiled program:
./ns3-network-vulnerability-assessment
This setup will demonstrate the basic implementation of network vulnerability assessment in ns3. If you need to expand it then include more sophisticated assessment techniques, additional nodes, and more complex network topologies as needed.
In the end, we entirely understood how to compile and run the network simulation to identify the network vulnerability in the malicious environment. If you need any additional details we will support and deliver it. Implementation of Network Vulnerability Assessment in the ns3 tool are shared by us, we provide you with guidance on how to use this tool for your projects on trending topics. Let us help you with project ideas and comparative analysis!