How to Implement Network Multi Factor Authentication in NS2
To implement the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) in NS2, we have to replicate a numerous layers of authentication for network nodes before they are permitted to interact. Usually, it encompasses two or more validation process called passwords, certificates, biometric data or tokens. We can simulate MFA by confirming several factors (for instance: passwords and tokens) before granting nodes to deliver data in ns2.
The given produce will help you get started with the implementation in ns2:
Step-by-Step Implementation:
- Set Up NS2
Make certain that NS2 is installed on your system. If not, you can install it using the given command:
sudo apt-get install ns2
- Define the Network Topology
Start by developing a simple network topology with several nodes required to authenticate before they can communicate. The MFA process will encompass validating several credentials (password, token, etc.) before granting data transmission.
Example:
set ns [new Simulator]
set tracefile [open mfa_simulation.tr w]
$ns trace-all $tracefile
# Create nodes
set n1 [$ns node] ;# Sender node
set n2 [$ns node] ;# Receiver node
set auth_server [$ns node] ;# Authentication server for MFA
# Create links between nodes
$ns duplex-link $n1 $n2 1Mb 10ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $n1 $auth_server 1Mb 10ms DropTail
- Simulate the Multi-Factor Authentication Process
In this step, you will replicate two or more authentication factors. For simplicity, we will use a password and token as the two factors that need to be certified by the authentication server before communication is granted.
(A) Define Authentication Data
Generate data that each node needs to verify like passwords and tokens.
# MFA credentials for each node
set credentials {
n1 {password1 token1}
n2 {password2 token2}
}
# Function to retrieve stored credentials
proc get_credentials {node} {
global credentials
return [lindex $credentials [lsearch $credentials $node] 1]
}
(B) Simulate MFA Process
You will imitate the MFA process where each node will offer both a password and token for verification by the validation server.
# Function to simulate MFA verification
proc verify_mfa {node provided_password provided_token} {
global credentials
set stored_password [lindex [get_credentials $node] 0]
set stored_token [lindex [get_credentials $node] 1]
# Verify both password and token
if { $provided_password == $stored_password && $provided_token == $stored_token } {
puts “$node: MFA authentication successful”
return 1
} else {
puts “$node: MFA authentication failed”
return 0
}
}
# Simulate the MFA process for node n1
set node1_password “password1”
set node1_token “token1”
set auth_result [verify_mfa n1 $node1_password $node1_token]
if { $auth_result == 1 } {
puts “n1 authenticated: Communication allowed”
} else {
puts “n1 failed authentication: Communication blocked”
}
- Simulate Communication After Authentication
If the nodes pass the MFA process, they are permitted to interact. Otherwise, the communication is congested.
(A) Simulate Traffic After Authentication
If authentication is successful, permit data to be transferred amongst the sender (n1) and the receiver (n2).
# Set up UDP traffic between n1 and n2
set udp1 [new Agent/UDP]
set null1 [new Agent/Null]
$ns attach-agent $n1 $udp1
$ns attach-agent $n2 $null1
$ns connect $udp1 $null1
# Create CBR (Constant Bit Rate) traffic generator attached to UDP
set cbr1 [new Application/Traffic/CBR]
$cbr1 set packetSize_ 512
$cbr1 set rate_ 1Mb
$cbr1 attach-agent $udp1
# Conditionally start communication after successful MFA
if { $auth_result == 1 } {
puts “Starting communication between n1 and n2”
$ns at 1.0 “$cbr1 start”
} else {
puts “Communication blocked due to failed MFA”
}
- Simulate Multiple Nodes with MFA
You can expand the system by including more nodes with various credentials and executing MFA verification for each before permitting communication.
Example of adding another node (n2) and checking MFA for both n1 and n2:
# Simulate MFA process for node n2
set node2_password “password2”
set node2_token “token2”
set auth_result_n2 [verify_mfa n2 $node2_password $node2_token]
if { $auth_result_n2 == 1 } {
puts “n2 authenticated: Communication allowed”
} else {
puts “n2 failed authentication: Communication blocked”
}
- Simulate Authentication Failures
Imitate the failed MFA, you can deliver wrong passwords or tokens for one or more nodes, which will result in blocked communication.
Example:
# Provide incorrect password and token for n1
set node1_password “wrong_password”
set node1_token “wrong_token”
set auth_result_failed [verify_mfa n1 $node1_password $node1_token]
if { $auth_result_failed == 1 } {
puts “n1 authenticated: Communication allowed”
} else {
puts “n1 failed authentication: Communication blocked”
}
- Run the Simulation
Once your Tcl script is ready, you can execute the simulation using the below command:
ns your_script.tcl
- Analyze Results
After the simulation completes, you can assess the trace file (mfa_simulation.tr) to certify if the communication amongst nodes was appropriately accomplished or blocked in terms of the MFA results. You can also use NAM (Network Animator) to visualize the simulation.
- Extend the Simulation
You can extend this implementation by:
- Adding more authentication factors: Attach other factors like biometric data, certificates, or security questions.
- Simulating attack scenarios: Replicate scenarios where an attacker tries to bypass the MFA process (for instance: using brute-force attacks or stealing tokens).
- Introducing time-based tokens: Simulate dynamic tokens that change over time like those created by time-based one-time password (TOTP) algorithms.
- Implementing session management: After MFA is successful, nodes can accomplish a session that remains active for a particular period, after which they need to reauthenticate.
We have delivered the step-by-step guide to simulate the environment and implement the Network Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) in NS2 by applying validation process like passwords, biometric data and so on. Check out ns2project.com for some cool project ideas on Network Multi Factor Authentication using the ns2 tool. Just let us know what you need, and we’ll tailor it to your research area!