Nature-inspired intrusion detection system for protecting software-defined networks controller

With the increased usage of the Internet, the need for providing security and privacy to protect computer networks is increased too. Network intrusion detection system (NIDS) is intended to observe and inspect the activities in a network. This system is highly dependent on the features of the input network data as these features describe the behaviour of the current network activities. Not only do the irrelevant and redundant network features cause the learning algorithm to build an inaccurate detection model, but they also increase the time complexity and exhaust computation resources as well. In this paper, several feature selection techniques are applied to boost the performance of the NIDS. Categories of the applied selection techniques are of the filter (Information Gain (IG), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Correlation Feature Selection (CFS)) and of the wrapper (Genetic Algorithm (GA), Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)). Support vector machine (SVM) is utilized to classify the network connections. The benchmark network traffic NSL-KDD dataset is selected to build and test the NIDS. The impact of the applied selection approaches on enhancing the detection model performance is compared and discussed. Evaluation results stated that the wrapper approaches achieved better classification performance for the NIDS in terms of high classification accuracy, detection rate, true positive rates, and low false-positive rates than the filter approaches. Our ABC-NIDS is compared with other related NIDSs and the comparison result proved that our system achieved the best performance.

The Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem consists of interconnected devices that work together. It facilitates communication between devices, real-time data exchange and cloud computing. The occurrence risk of cyber attacks grows exponentially with these interconnected systems. Devices, networks and data could easily come under attack, wherefore they become vulnerable and could be compromised by hackers. To address this problem, we propose an enhanced Framework used on Software Defined Network (SDN) environment-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) for securing IoT devices from malicious activity. We implement the machine learning (ML) method as part of the SDN controller's Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS). Our enhanced ML-based SDN Controller Framework (Improved ML-SDN) classify the data traffic and makes a real-time prediction. It is based on K-Nearest Neighbor (kNN) supervised learning algorithm with others improving model Accuracy. It has produced an accuracy of 99.7%, 0.02304 s of building model time, 0.2997 s of detection time and a false alarm rate (FAR) of 0.34%.

Network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) are essential for protecting computer networks against cyberattacks. The selection of a nominal set of essential features that may adequately discriminate malicious traffic from normal traffic is indispensable while developing a NIDS. As such, a more reliable and accurate detection result may be realized when intrusion detection is carried out on a dataset based on an inclusive feature representation. This work presents the pre-processing and feature selection workflow as well as its results in the case of the CIC-IDS-2017 dataset, with a focus on two cyber-attacks, namely Denial-of-Service (DoS) and PortScan. The study applied an ensemble feature selection method based on information gain and Random Forest to filter out important features. Recursive Feature Elimination method was then applied to the reduced features to optimize the selected feature subset. The selected feature subset was experimented with using two classification algorithms, namely support vector machine and multi-layer perceptron. In the evaluation process, four widely used performance metrics were considered. The study results demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed ensemble approach to optimize the selected feature subset for detecting PortScan and DoS attacks in network traffic. Experimental results revealed that the support vector machine had a slight advantage in accuracy and could train more quickly. According to the study's evaluation, the NIDS may be able to shorten processing times without sacrificing the ability to detect PortScan and DoS attacks accurately by choosing a narrow subset of informative features. This suggests the approach might be applicable to real-world NIDS scenarios involving these attacks. The study also provides encouraging perspectives on how ensemble feature selection utilizing MLP and SVM can enhance the effectiveness of NIDS. Building on these findings, more research can create NIDS solutions that are even more reliable and efficient for the dynamic field of cybersecurity.

An intrusion detection system (IDS) is an essential component of any modern network. The purpose of an IDS is to detect intrusion and generate appropriate alarms so that the intrusion can be mitigated. Implementing an IDS in a Software Defined Network (SDN) is easier since an SDN controller has a centralized view of the whole network. Researchers have made many efforts to use machine learning (ML) for developing network-based IDS in SDN. The network-based IDS analyzes different characteristics of incoming network traffic to detect intrusion. Early detection of intrusion is crucial for an IDS because if the intrusion is not detected quickly enough, it can cause severe damage, such as data breaches and service shutdowns. This paper focuses on detecting intrusion in SDN as early as possible using real-time flow-based features. Our aim is to detect intrusion with less amount of packets per flow, which not only facilitates early intrusion detection but also is useful when an intrusion flow has less number of packets. We show that although ML models perform well in offline training on a dataset, their performance decreases ~25% when fewer packets are used to generate features for the ML model. In all our experiments, a simple Random Forest (RF) algorithm outperforms a complex deep learning model on a publicly available dataset for intrusion detection in SDN.

As a promising technique for the design of 5G wireless networks, software-defined networks (SDNs) have been proposed. However, SDNs are vulnerable to most of the attacks that traditional networks are vulnerable to. Various techniques have been developed and designed to help in the detection as well as the prevention of various attacks. An intrusion detection system (IDS) is one of the common techniques used to detect malicious activity in a network. Intrusion detection systems have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to detecting intrusions. It becomes a challenging task for IDS to process any mixture of traffic that results in packet drop and delay. In this study, we scrutinized two open-source IDS, including Snort IDS and Zeek IDS, to assess the IDS performance in terms of various parameters such as detection rate, dropping rate, and latency. The method of detection was one of the main differences between Snort and Zeek. Zeek IDS uses an anomaly-based detection method as opposed to Snort IDS, which uses a signature-based detection method. Differences between them had an impact on the way network traffic was handled. Such a thought analysis is expected to be of great value in selection and further enhancement of IDS in SDN.

Cyberspace is a concept describing a widespread, interconnected digital technology with numerous users. New standards add more concerns with tremendous information gathered from various network sources, which can be utilized for focused cyber-attacks. Digital attacks in networks are getting more complex and subsequently introducing expanding difficulties in precisely distinguishing network intrusions. Inability to forestall the network intrusions could debase the validity of safety administrations, for example, information privacy, trustworthiness, and accessibility. In this work, we center around developing a Network Intrusion Detection System which is implemented utilizing Machine Learning Techniques. IDS dependent on ML techniques are successful and exact in distinguishing varied networks intrusions. Also, many of the ML-based IDS experience the ill effects of an increment in false-positive rate, leading to lower precision and accuracy. Consequently, we present an exploration of the UNSW-NB15 intrusion detection dataset that will be utilized for preparing the machine learning models. In our tests, we carry out various ML approaches namely, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest Classifier (RF), Decision Tree (DT), Gradient boosted decision trees (GBDT). The results demonstrated that the hyperparameter optimization technique using Grid Search and Random Search methods and evaluation using k-fold cross-validation gives better optimization of model parameters and henceforth brings about better execution.KeywordsCross-validationCyberattackDecision tree (DT)Gradient boosted decision trees (GBDT)Hyperparameter TuningLogistic regression (LR)Network intrusion detection system (IDS)Random forest classifier (RF)Support vector machine (SVM)

Today, network-based intrusions are among the most prevalent security threats our networked systems face. In the case of software-defined networks (SDN), not only the connected devices and services but also the SDN controllers may be subjected to intrusion attempts. The advent of efficient and robust machine learning (ML) algorithms along with the availability of a large number of network datasets enabled the development of ML-based network intrusion detection systems (NIDS). Recent work has demonstrated that ML-based NIDS systems are vulnerable to evasion attacks where the adversary targets the ML classifier in the NIDS system to evade detection by performing various packet perturbations. In this work, we propose an approach to build robust ML based NIDS systems that use multiple ML classifiers trained with reduced feature sets. Our approach depends on a careful feature selection procedure based on Permutation Feature Importance, a wrapper based feature engineering method. Our evaluations on well-known datasets show that the proposed hybrid multi-classifier system is robust and performs well against the packet perturbation attacks considered in this work.

Considering the problem that the SDN controller can not fully resolve the virtual network function during the Software Defined Network (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NVF) collaborative deployment in the satellite network, a SDN/NFV coordination based on the three-layer satellite network is designed. The framework extends the SDN controller function and proposes the SDN controller function extension method (SDN-FE) based on LightGBM algorithm. SDN-FE has extended the functions of the original SDN controller in three aspects. One is based on LightGBM to establish a classification model for intelligent forwarding of SDN controller data packets. The second is to learn and predict VNF modification of data packets through logistic regression. The third is to design an idle state monitoring mechanism. The above method effectively enhances the control capability of the SDN controller to the network. In terms of SDN packet forwarding classification, SDN-FE is compared with existing well-known machine learning classification algorithms such as SVM, random forest, LSTM. Simulation experiments show that the SDN packet forwarding classification problem is predictable. The average accuracy of the LightGBM model in multi-classification problems is over 69%, which is better than machine learning models such as SVM and random forest. The next step is to conduct an in-depth study of the packet rule learning algorithm in VNF.

Traditional Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDSes) are generally implemented on vendor proprietary appliances or middleboxes with poor versatility and flexibility. Emerging Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technologies can virtualize NIDSes and elastically scale them to deal with attack traffic variations. However, such an elasticity feature must not come at the cost of decreased detection effectiveness and expensive provisioning. In this paper, we propose an innovative NIDS architecture, vNIDS, to enable safe and efficient virtualization of NIDSes. vNIDS addresses two key challenges with respect to effective intrusion detection and non-monolithic NIDS provisioning in virtualizing NIDSes. The former challenge is addressed by detection state sharing while minimizing the sharing overhead in virtualized environments. In particular, static program analysis is employed to determine which detection states need to be shared. vNIDS addresses the latter challenge by provisioning virtual NIDSes as microservices and employing program slicing to partition the detection logic programs so that they can be executed by each microservice separately. We implement a prototype of vNIDS to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach. Our evaluation results show that vNIDS could offer both effective intrusion detection and efficient provisioning for NIDS virtualization.

The complexity of handling modern apps is causing older network architectures to struggle. As a result, Software Defined Networking (SDN) has developed into a paradigm-shifting network framework that enables administrators to exercise programmable control over whole network infrastructures. This development makes it easier to configure and operate large networks, but it also adds vulnerabilities, including the possibility of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) assaults that could take down the SDN controller. Integrating security tools like firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and anti-DDoS solutions is crucial to reducing this danger. In the context of SDN, leveraging the analytical power of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to analyse network traffic patterns is a key tactic for fending off DDoS attacks. Effective defence systems are supported by these ML models, which can distinguish between normal network behaviour and DDoS assault traffic with ease. Decision trees (DT), support vector machines (SVM), and artificial neural networks (ANN) are examples of supervised ML techniques that have evolved into crucial tools in this field. These algorithms are developed utilising datasets with annotations that include examples of both legitimate and malicious network traffic. Once trained, the models may be used to instantly categorise incoming traffic, making it easier to identify and contain any DDoS attacks in real-time.

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMTs) is a network of connected medical equipment such as pacemakers, prosthetics, and smartwatches. Utilizing the IoMT-based system, a huge amount of data is generated, offering experts a valuable resource for tasks such as prediction, real-time monitoring, and diagnosis. To do so, the patient's health data must be transferred to database storage for processing because of the limitations of the storage and computation capabilities of IoMT devices. Consequently, concerns regarding security and privacy can arise due to the limited control over the transmitted information and reliance on wireless transmission, which leaves the network vulnerable to several kinds of attacks. Motivated by this, in this study, we aim to build and improve an efficient intrusion detection system (IDS) for IoMT networks. The proposed IDS leverages tree-based machine learning classifiers combined with filter-based feature selection techniques to enhance detection accuracy and efficiency. The proposed model is used for monitoring and identifying unauthorized or malicious activities within medical devices and networks. To optimize performance and minimize computation costs, we utilize Mutual Information (MI) and XGBoost as filter-based feature selection methods. Then, to reduce the number of the chosen features selected, we apply a mathematical set (intersection) to extract the common features. The proposed method can detect intruders while data are being transferred, allowing for the accurate and efficient analysis of healthcare data at the network's edge. The system's performance is assessed using the CICIDS2017 dataset. We evaluate the proposed model in terms of accuracy, F1 score, recall, precision, true positive rate, and false positive rate. The proposed model achieves 98.79% accuracy and a low false alarm rate 0.007 FAR on the CICIDS2017 dataset according to the experimental results. While this study focuses on binary classification for intrusion detection, we are planning to build a multi-classification approach for future work which will be able to not only detect the attacks but also categorize them. Additionally, we will consider using our proposed feature selection technique for different ML classifiers and evaluate the model's performance empirically in real-world IoMT scenarios.

Intrusion detection systems (IDS) are used in analyzing huge data and diagnose anomaly traffic such as DDoS attack; thus, an efficient traffic classification method is necessary for the IDS. The IDS models attempt to decrease false alarm and increase true alarm rates in order to improve the performance accuracy of the system. To resolve this concern, three machine learning algorithms have been tested and evaluated in this research which are decision jungle (DJ), random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM). The main objective is to propose a ML-based network intrusion detection system (ML-based NIDS) model that compares the performance of the three algorithms based on their accuracy and precision of anomaly traffics. The knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) methodology and intrusion detection evaluation dataset (CIC-IDS2017) are used in the testing which both are considered as a benchmark in the evaluation of IDS. The average accuracy results of the SVM is 98.18%, RF is 96.76% and DJ is 96.50% in which the highest accuracy is achieved by the SVM. The average precision results of the SVM is 98.74, RF is 97.96 and DJ is 97.82 in which the SVM got a higher average precision compared with the other two algorithms. The average recall results of the SVM is 95.63, RF is 97.62 and DJ is 95.77 in which the RF achieves the highest average of recall than SVM and DJ. In overall, the SVM algorithm is found to be the best algorithm that can be used to detect an intrusion in the system.

Network attacks have become necessary in today’s time due to increased network traffic. To determine whether network traffic is normal or anomalous a supervised machine learning system is developed. A network intrusion detection system (IDS) is a must-have piece of a security system. This proposed study aims to discover new patterns automatically from substantial quantities of network data, reducing time manually compiling intrusion and normal behavior patterns. The best model in terms of detection success rate was discovered using a supervised learning algorithm and feature selection method. AdaBoost outperforms Neural Network, kNN, and Naive Bayes in supervised machine learning with feature selection in this study, with a detection accuracy of 100.00%, 99.30%, 91.60%, and 99.70%, respectively. The Network Intrusion Detection dataset is used to classify network intrusions to evaluate the study and it has also been used in past studies. On the other hand, the proposed model proved to be more effective than other studies in terms of intrusion detection. The proposed approach can be used in various fields, including finance, health, and transportation. Furthermore, additional parameter tuning could be added, and different feature selection techniques could be used to improve the performance of the classifiers.

As the reliance on digital networks grows, the need for robust security measures becomes paramount. It offers a thorough analysis of creating and assessing a Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) incorporating various machine learning algorithms. The selected algorithms consist of K Nearest Neighbour, Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine, and Logistic Regression. Moreover, widely recognised ensemble learning models like CatBoost, AdaBoost, Gradient Boost, Random Forest, and Extreme Gradient Boost. The core objective is to improve the efficiency of intrusion detection by evaluating various machine-learning models. Utilizes feature selection techniques based on chi-square to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of the selected features. The evaluation metrics, particularly Matthews’ Correlation Coefficient (MCC) and ROC Curves, are used in assessing the models’ efficacy. They offer valuable insights into the models’ capability to differentiate between normal and malicious network activities. This study aims to advance cybersecurity by comparing classical machine learning and ensemble models for network intrusion detection. Significantly, our results underscore XGBoost’s effectiveness with 0.996 accuracy and 0.993 MCC, in enhancing digital network security.

Software Defined Network (SDN) Technology made tremendous changes in networking field by controlling the hardware with remote software by decoupling data plane and control plane. The focus here is on the controller which is part of control plane. A controller is a central part of SDN; it is an intermediary between Data plane and Forwarding plane. It takes prime place in SDN architecture like Operating System in Computers. SDN Controller is a software which directs the packets using flow rules and also contains statistical information of network. The controller orchestrates the networking devices such as switches and routers by channelizing the packets. SDN controller has different flavor based on the commercial requirement achieved by including new pluggable module. This paper discusses some of the SDN Controller with their feature; the controllers are POX, NOX, Floodlight, ODL, Open Contrail. This paper also compares the characteristic of centralized and distributed controller by focusing on performance, bandwidth and round-trip time of Floodlight and Open Daylight (ODL) controller. The simulation is conducted using Mininet.