How to Implement Cybersecurity Firmware Security in NS2

To implement the cybersecurity for firmware security using NS2 (Network Simulator 2), which has contains mimicking a network of devices running firmware, like an embedded systems, industrial control systems, or IoT devices, and safeguarding the communication among these devices to defend versus cyber threats such as tampered firmware, or malicious attacks, unauthorized firmware updates. To secure the firmware, we can be used the encryption, authentication, integrity checks, and intrusion detection systems (IDS). Below, we give the basic execution process on how to implement it in NS2:

Steps to Implement Cybersecurity Firmware Security in NS2:

  1. Set Up NS2

Make certain that NS2 is installed and setup properly. The firmware-based system may encompass numerous devices like sensors, microcontrollers, actuators are communicating with a central control server. Introduce an attacker node to replicate cyberattacks, like unauthorized firmware modifications or Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

  1. Define the Firmware System Network Topology

Make a network topology denoting a system in which devices are running firmware (e.g., IoT devices, microcontrollers) interact with a central firmware update server or controller. Launch an attacker node to mimic the security threats.

Example: Define firmware system network topology

set ns [new Simulator]

# Create nodes representing IoT devices, microcontrollers, a firmware update server, and an attacker

set iot_device1 [$ns node]

set iot_device2 [$ns node]

set microcontroller1 [$ns node]

set firmware_update_server [$ns node]

set attacker [$ns node]

set router1 [$ns node]

# Set up communication links between devices and the firmware update server

$ns duplex-link $iot_device1 $router1 1Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $iot_device2 $router1 1Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $microcontroller1 $router1 1Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $router1 $firmware_update_server 10Mb 5ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $attacker $router1 1Mb 10ms DropTail   ;# Attacker connected to router

This topology contains the IoT devices and microcontrollers, which communicate with a central firmware update server. The attacker node mimics potential security threats.

  1. Simulate Normal Firmware Update Process

Replicate the typical process of a firmware update in which the IoT devices and microcontrollers are communicate including the central firmware update server to receive updates. It will be the basis for the attack scenarios.

Example: Simulate firmware update communication

# Set up TCP agents for communication between devices and the firmware update server

set tcp_device1 [new Agent/TCP]

set tcp_device2 [new Agent/TCP]

set tcp_microcontroller1 [new Agent/TCP]

set tcp_server [new Agent/TCP]

$ns attach-agent $iot_device1 $tcp_device1

$ns attach-agent $iot_device2 $tcp_device2

$ns attach-agent $microcontroller1 $tcp_microcontroller1

$ns attach-agent $firmware_update_server $tcp_server

# Connect devices and microcontroller to the firmware update server

$ns connect $tcp_device1 $tcp_server

$ns connect $tcp_device2 $tcp_server

$ns connect $tcp_microcontroller1 $tcp_server

# Simulate data transmission from IoT device 1 to the firmware update server

set ftp1 [new Application/FTP]

$ftp1 attach-agent $tcp_device1

$ns at 1.0 “$ftp1 start”

$ns at 50.0 “$ftp1 stop”

This replicates the firmware update process in which the IoT devices are communicate with the firmware update server.

  1. Implement Security Mechanisms (Encryption, Authentication, Integrity Check)

To make certain that firmware security, we use encryption to secure communication, authentication to check the legitimate devices, and integrity verifies to make sure that firmware integrity.

  1. Encryption

Encrypt the data exchanged among the devices and the firmware update server to defend versus unauthorized access and eavesdropping.

# Define encryption and decryption procedures

proc encrypt_message {message key} {

set encrypted_message “”

for {set i 0} {$i < [string length $message]} {incr i} {

set encrypted_message [string append $encrypted_message \

[expr [scan [string index $message $i] %c] ^ $key]]

}

return $encrypted_message

}

proc decrypt_message {encrypted_message key} {

return [encrypt_message $encrypted_message $key]  ;# XOR encryption is reversible

}

# Encrypt firmware data before sending it from the update server to the IoT device

set firmware_data “Firmware version 1.2.3”

set encryption_key 54321  ;# Example encryption key

set encrypted_data [encrypt_message $firmware_data $encryption_key]

puts “Encrypted firmware data: $encrypted_data”

  1. Authentication

Authentication make sure that only trusted devices can access the firmware update server and it only legitimate updates are utilised.

# Simple authentication procedure for IoT devices and microcontrollers

proc authenticate_device {device key} {

set pre_shared_key 98765  ;# Pre-shared key for authentication

if {$key == $pre_shared_key} {

puts “Device $device authenticated”

return 1

} else {

puts “Device $device authentication failed”

return 0

}

}

# Authenticate IoT device 1

set device1_key 98765

set auth_status [authenticate_device “iot_device1” $device1_key]

  1. Integrity Check

Firmware integrity verifies make certain that the firmware has not been tampered with all through transmission. Before and after transmission, it can be done by comparing the hash of the firmware.

# Simulate a firmware integrity check using a simple hash comparison

proc generate_hash {firmware_data} {

return [exec echo -n $firmware_data | sha256sum]  ;# Generate a simple hash

}

# Hash before transmission

set original_hash [generate_hash “Firmware version 1.2.3”]

# Hash after transmission (simulating reception by the IoT device)

set received_data “Firmware version 1.2.3”  ;# Correct data

set received_hash [generate_hash $received_data]

# Check integrity

if {$original_hash == $received_hash} {

puts “Firmware integrity verified.”

} else {

puts “Firmware integrity check failed!”

}

  1. Simulate Cyberattacks on Firmware Security

Here, replicate several kinds of cyberattacks on the firmware system, like man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, unauthorized firmware updates, and DoS attacks.

  1. Unauthorized Firmware Update

Mimic an attack in which the attacker attempts to transfer the unauthorized firmware updates to the IoT device or microcontroller.

# Simulate an attacker trying to push an unauthorized firmware update

proc simulate_unauthorized_firmware_update {attacker target} {

puts “Attacker attempting to push unauthorized firmware update to $target”

}

# Launch unauthorized firmware update attack on IoT device 1

$ns at 20.0 “simulate_unauthorized_firmware_update $attacker $iot_device1”

  1. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack

Replicate an attacker intercepting the firmware update process among the devices and the server to change the firmware or steal information.

# Simulate MITM attack where attacker intercepts firmware update between device and server

proc simulate_mitm_attack {attacker target} {

puts “MITM attack: Attacker intercepting firmware update for $target”

}

# Launch MITM attack on IoT device 1

$ns at 25.0 “simulate_mitm_attack $attacker $iot_device1”

  1. Denial of Service (DoS) Attack

An attacker can be interrupted the firmware update process by flooding the network including malicious traffic and avoiding legitimate devices from receiving updates.

# Set up a malicious node to simulate a DoS attack on the firmware update process

set udp_attacker [new Agent/UDP]

$ns attach-agent $attacker $udp_attacker

$ns connect $udp_attacker $router1

# Simulate flooding the network with malicious traffic (DoS attack)

proc simulate_dos_attack {attacker target} {

global ns

for {set i 0} {$i < 5000} {incr i} {

$ns at [expr 10.0 + $i*0.01] “$attacker send”

}

}

# Launch the DoS attack

$ns at 30.0 “simulate_dos_attack $udp_attacker $router1”

  1. Implement Response Mechanisms

Once an attack is identified then the system can respond by separated the attacker or blocking unauthorized firmware updates.

Example: Isolate the attacker node

# Isolate the attacker after detecting malicious activity

proc isolate_attacker {} {

global ns attacker

puts “Isolating attacker node from the network.”

$ns detach-agent $attacker

}

  1. Collect and Analyze Traffic Data

Allow tracing in NS2 to collect network traffic logs that will help estimate the effect of the attacks and the efficiency of security mechanisms.

Enable tracing for data collection

# Enable trace file to log firmware update network traffic

set tracefile [open firmware_security_trace.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

The trace file logs the packet events (send, receive, drop), node information, and timestamps, permitting to estimate the attack patterns and security responses.

  1. Run the Simulation and Analyze Results

Run the simulation to monitor the firmware update system under normal conditions and all through attacks. Compute how well the security mechanisms (encryption, authentication, integrity checks) are defend the firmware from cyber threats.

Finalize and run the simulation

proc finish {} {

global ns tracefile

$ns flush-trace

close $tracefile

puts “Simulation finished. Analyze the trace file for firmware security data.”

exit 0

}

# Schedule the end of the simulation

$ns at 100.0 “finish”

$ns run

  1. Analyze Trace Data

When the simulation is done then we assess the trace data to compute the security performance and the effect of any replicated cyberattacks.

Example: Analyze the trace file using Python

import pandas as pd

# Function to parse NS2 trace file and extract relevant fields

def parse_trace_file(trace_file):

data = []

with open(trace_file, ‘r’) as f:

for line in f:

fields = line.strip().split()

event, time, node, packet_size, flow_id, src, dest = fields[:7]

data.append([time, node, packet_size, src, dest])

return pd.DataFrame(data, columns=[‘time’, ‘node’, ‘packet_size’, ‘src’, ‘dest’])

# Load and parse the trace data

trace_data = parse_trace_file(‘firmware_security_trace.tr’)

print(trace_data.head())

Hence, the step-by-step procedure was applied to the Cybersecurity Firmware Security, with the implementation and analysis performed via the simulation tool ns2. We will offer additional insights regarding this topic based on your needs.

Get good  guidance on Cybersecurity Firmware Security in the NS2 tool, visit ns2project.com. You can find help with embedded systems, industrial control systems, and IoT devices, as well as tips for protecting communication.