This document outlines the System Requirement Specification (SRS) for the "Detection
of Attack (DoS, Probe) using Genetic Algorithm" project. This project aims to develop an
intelligent and adaptive system capable of identifying and mitigating Denial of Service
(DoS) and Probe attacks on a network, leveraging the power of Genetic Algorithms (GA)
in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep
Learning (DL) techniques, integrated with firewall and cyber tool functionalities.
1. Introduction:-
The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, particularly DoS and Probe attacks,
poses a significant threat to network availability and security. Traditional signature-based
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) often struggle with novel or polymorphic attack
variants. This project proposes a novel approach that combines the optimization
capabilities of Genetic Algorithms with the pattern recognition strengths of AI, ML, and
DL to create a robust and adaptive attack detection system. The system will analyze
network traffic, identify anomalous patterns indicative of DoS and Probe attacks, and
integrate with existing cybersecurity tools for alerts and potential mitigation.
2. Functional Requirements:-
The system shall perform the following core functions:
* **FR001: Network Traffic Monitoring and Collection:**
System continuously monitor network traffic at designated points (e.g., network
interfaces, firewalls). System capture relevant network packet headers & payloads
(configurable) for analysis. System support various network protocols (TCP, UDP,
ICMP, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP). The system shall handle high volumes of network
traffic without significant performance degradation.
* **FR002: Feature Extraction:**
The system shall extract relevant features from captured network traffic for attack
detection. These features may include:
Packet size, inter-arrival time, and protocol type. Source/destination IP
addresses and port numbers. Number of connections, failed connections, and unique
services. Flags (SYN, ACK, FIN, RST, URG, PSH) and sequence numbers. Payload
size and entropy. Time-based features (e.g., connections over a specific time
window).The system shall allow for configurable feature sets.
* **FR003: Genetic Algorithm (GA) Module:**
* **FR003.1: Population Initialization:** The GA module shall initialize a diverse
population of potential attack detection rules (chromosomes).
* **FR003.2: Fitness Function Calculation:** The GA module shall evaluate the
fitness of each rule based on its ability to accurately classify network traffic as normal or
malicious (DoS/Probe), considering metrics like detection rate, false positive rate, and
false negative rate.
* **FR003.3: Selection:** The GA module shall implement a selection mechanism
(e.g., roulette wheel, tournament selection) to choose fitter individuals for reproduction.
* **FR003.4: Crossover:** The GA module shall perform crossover operations on
selected individuals to generate new offspring (new rules).
* **FR003.5: Mutation:** The GA module shall introduce random mutations to
maintain diversity within the population and explore new solution spaces.
* **FR003.6: Termination Condition:** The GA module shall define termination
conditions (e.g., maximum generations, convergence of fitness, acceptable accuracy
threshold).
* **FR004: AI/ML/DL Integration for Attack Detection:**
* The system shall utilize trained AI/ML/DL models (e.g., Decision Trees, Random
Forests, Support Vector Machines, Neural Networks, LSTMs, GRUs) to classify network
traffic as normal, DoS, or Probe.
* The GA shall be used to optimize the hyperparameters or even the architecture of
these AI/ML/DL models for enhanced detection performance.
* The system shall support both supervised and unsupervised learning approaches for
anomaly detection.
* The system shall be able to adapt to new attack patterns through continuous learning
and model updates.
* **FR005: Attack Classification:**
* The system shall accurately classify detected attacks into specific categories (e.g.,
SYN Flood, UDP Flood, ICMP Flood for DoS; Port Scan, IP Sweep for Probe).
* **FR006: Alerting and Notification:**
* The system shall generate alerts upon detection of a DoS or Probe attack.
* The system shall support multiple notification mechanisms (e.g., email, SMS,
console alerts, integration with SIEM).
* Alerts shall include detailed information about the detected attack (e.g., attack type,
source IP, destination IP, timestamps, severity).
* **FR007: Firewall and Cyber Tool Integration:**
* The system shall integrate with existing firewall rules to automatically block
malicious IP addresses or traffic patterns identified by the detection system.
* The system shall provide an API or interface for integration with other cybersecurity
tools (e.g., Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, network access
control (NAC) solutions).
* The system shall leverage threat intelligence feeds from cyber tools to enhance
detection capabilities.
* **FR008: Reporting and Visualization:**
* The system shall generate comprehensive reports on detected attacks, including
attack trends, statistics, and mitigation actions.
* The system shall provide a user-friendly dashboard for real-time visualization of
network traffic, attack status, and system performance.
* **FR009: Configuration and Management:**
* The system shall provide an administrative interface for configuring detection
thresholds, GA parameters, AI/ML/DL model settings, and alerting rules.
* The system shall allow for the management of whitelists and blacklists.
* The system shall support data retention policies for collected network traffic and
logs.
### 3. Non-Functional Requirements
* **NFR001: Performance:**
* **Latency:** The system shall detect attacks with minimal latency (e.g., within X
seconds of occurrence, where X is a configurable value, ideally < 5 seconds for critical
attacks).
* **Throughput:** The system shall be able to process network traffic at a rate of at
least Y Gbps (Gigabits per second), scaled based on network size.
* **Scalability:** The system shall be scalable to handle increasing network traffic
volumes and a growing number of monitored network segments.
* **Resource Utilization:** The system shall optimize CPU, memory, and disk
utilization to ensure efficient operation.
* **NFR002: Reliability:**
* **Availability:** The system shall be highly available, with minimal downtime (e.g.,
99.9% uptime).
* **Fault Tolerance:** The system shall be resilient to component failures and
continue operation in the event of minor issues.
* **Data Integrity:** The system shall ensure the integrity and accuracy of collected
network data and detection results.
* **NFR003: Security:**
* **Confidentiality:** The system shall protect sensitive network traffic data and
configuration information from unauthorized access.
* **Integrity:** The system shall prevent unauthorized modification of system
configurations and data.
* **Authentication and Authorization:** The system shall implement robust user
authentication and role-based access control (RBAC).
* **Vulnerability Management:** The system shall be designed with security best
practices to minimize vulnerabilities.
* **NFR004: Usability:**
* **User Interface (UI):** The system shall provide an intuitive and easy-to-use
graphical user interface (GUI) for monitoring, configuration, and reporting.
* **Documentation:** Comprehensive documentation (user manuals, administration
guides) shall be provided.
* **NFR005: Maintainability:**
* **Modularity:** The system shall be designed with a modular architecture to
facilitate future enhancements and maintenance.
* **Testability:** The system shall be designed to be easily testable.
* **Logging and Auditing:** The system shall generate detailed logs for
troubleshooting, auditing, and forensic analysis.
* **NFR006: Portability:**
* The system should ideally be designed to be deployable on various operating systems
and cloud environments, though initial deployment might target specific platforms.
### 4. Hardware Requirements
The hardware requirements will vary based on the size and traffic volume of the network
being monitored. Below are general guidelines, assuming a medium to large enterprise
network.
* **HR001: Server (for core processing and data storage):**
* **Processor:** High-performance multi-core processor (e.g., Intel Xeon E3/E5 or
AMD EPYC), 16 cores or more recommended for AI/ML/DL computations.
* **RAM:** Minimum 64 GB, 128 GB or more recommended for large datasets and
complex DL models.
* **Storage:** Fast SSDs for operating system, applications, and frequently accessed
data. High-capacity HDDs or a SAN/NAS for long-term storage of raw network traffic
and logs (e.g., 5-10 TB initially, expandable).
* **Network Interface Cards (NICs):** Multiple high-speed NICs (e.g., 10 GbE or 25
GbE) for efficient network traffic capture and processing.
* **GPU (Optional but Highly Recommended):** NVIDIA GPUs with CUDA support
(e.g., NVIDIA Tesla or GeForce RTX series) are highly recommended for accelerating
Deep Learning model training and inference.
* **HR002: Network Tap/Switch with Port Mirroring (for traffic capture):**
* Dedicated hardware for passively capturing network traffic, or a network switch with
robust port mirroring/SPAN capabilities.
* **HR003: Firewall/Router (existing infrastructure):**
* The system will integrate with existing firewalls and routers to apply mitigation rules.
These devices should have API access or support for automation.
### 5. Software Requirements
* **SR001: Operating System:**
* Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu Server, CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux) for its
stability, security, and open-source tooling support.
* **SR002: Programming Languages:**
* Python (for AI/ML/DL frameworks, GA implementation, and scripting).
* Possibly C++ or Go for high-performance network packet processing if extreme
throughput is required.
* **SR003: AI/ML/DL Frameworks:**
* TensorFlow or PyTorch for Deep Learning model development and execution.
* Scikit-learn for traditional Machine Learning algorithms (e.g., SVM, Random Forest,
Decision Trees, K-Nearest Neighbors).
* NumPy and Pandas for data manipulation and analysis.
* **SR004: Genetic Algorithm Libraries:**
* DEAP (Distributed Evolutionary Algorithms in Python) or similar GA libraries in
Python.
* **SR005: Network Packet Capture Libraries/Tools:**
* Scapy, dpkt, or Pcapy for Python-based packet manipulation and analysis.
* tcpdump/Wireshark for initial data exploration and debugging.
* **SR006: Database Management System (DBMS):**
* NoSQL database (e.g., Elasticsearch, MongoDB) for efficient storage and retrieval of
large volumes of time-series network data and logs. Relational database (e.g.,
PostgreSQL, MySQL) for storing configuration settings, user data, and analytical reports.
* **SR007: Visualization Tools:**
* Kibana (if Elasticsearch is used), Grafana, or custom web-based dashboards using
frameworks like Flask/Django (Python) with charting libraries (e.g., D3.js, Chart.js).
* **SR008: Firewall/Cyber Tool Integration APIs/SDKs:**
* APIs or Software Development Kits (SDKs) provided by the specific firewall
vendors (e.g., Palo Alto Networks API, Cisco ASA API) for automated rule updates.
* RESTful APIs for integration with SIEM or other cybersecurity platforms.
* **SR009: Version Control:**
* Git (with platforms like GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket) for source code management.
* **SR10: Containerization (Optional but Recommended):**
* Docker and Kubernetes for containerizing and orchestrating system components,
enhancing scalability and deployment.
Brief Report:-
The "Detection of Attack (DoS, Probe) using Genetic Algorithm" project
addresses a critical need in cybersecurity: the timely and accurate identification of DoS
and Probe attacks. These attacks can significantly disrupt network services, compromise
data, and lead to substantial financial losses. Traditional rule-based or signature-based
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) often fall short in detecting novel or polymorphic
attack variants due to their reliance on pre-defined patterns.
This project proposes an advanced and adaptive solution by integrating Genetic
Algorithms (GAs) with cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML),
and Deep Learning (DL) techniques. GAs excel at optimization and searching complex
solution spaces, making them ideal for evolving optimal attack detection rules or fine-
tuning the parameters of AI/ML/DL models.
The system will operate by continuously monitoring network traffic and extracting
a rich set of features. These features will then be fed into AI/ML/DL models, which,
guided and optimized by the Genetic Algorithm, will learn to differentiate between
legitimate network behavior and malicious DoS or Probe attack patterns. For instance, a
GA could evolve a set of rules that combine various network flow characteristics (e.g.,
sudden increase in SYN packets, unusual port scans, high connection failure rates) to
pinpoint an attack. Alternatively, a GA could optimize the weights or architecture of a
neural network to achieve higher accuracy in classifying these attacks.
Upon successful detection and classification, the system will trigger immediate
alerts to administrators through various channels. Crucially, it will also integrate with
existing firewall infrastructure and other cyber tools. This integration will enable
automated responses, such as dynamically updating firewall rules to block malicious
source IPs or redirecting suspicious traffic, thereby providing real-time mitigation
capabilities.
The use of AI, ML, and DL will allow the system to adapt to evolving threat
landscapes and detect previously unknown or zero-day attacks. The genetic algorithm will
play a pivotal role in maintaining the system's effectiveness and efficiency by
continuously optimizing the detection logic. The modular design, robust hardware and
software specifications, and emphasis on non-functional requirements like performance,
reliability, and security will ensure a highly effective, scalable, and maintainable solution
for proactive network defence. This project has the potential to significantly enhance
network security posture by providing a more intelligent, adaptive, and automated
approach to DoS and Probe attack detection and mitigation.
The "Detection of Attack (DoS, Probe) using Genetic Algorithm" project
addresses a paramount challenge in modern cybersecurity: the timely and accurate
identification and mitigation of sophisticated DoS and Probe attacks. These attacks,
designed to disrupt network services or gather reconnaissance, can lead to severe
operational downtime, data breaches, and significant financial repercussions. Traditional
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), often reliant on static, signature-based rules, are
increasingly ineffective against novel, polymorphic, or zero-day attack variants that do
not conform to known patterns.
This project proposes an innovative and adaptive solution that transcends the
limitations of conventional systems. It integrates the powerful optimization capabilities of
Genetic Algorithms (GAs) with the advanced pattern recognition strengths of Artificial
Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) techniques. The core
premise is to leverage GAs to intelligently evolve and refine the parameters, feature sets,
or even the underlying logic of AI/ML/DL models, enabling them to learn and adapt to
the ever-changing landscape of cyber threats.
The system's operational flow begins with continuous, high-volume network
traffic monitoring and meticulous feature extraction. A rich set of network flow, packet,
and statistical features will be derived, providing a comprehensive dataset for analysis.
This data will then be fed into a sophisticated AI/ML/DL engine. Here, algorithms such
as Neural Networks (for deep pattern learning), Random Forests (for robust
classification), or Support Vector Machines (for effective boundary separation) will be
employed. The crucial differentiator lies in the Genetic Algorithm module. The GA will
iteratively optimize these models, for instance, by fine-tuning hyperparameters, selecting
the most impactful features, or even evolving the architecture of a neural network itself.
This evolutionary process ensures that the detection models are always at their peak
performance, minimizing false positives while maximizing detection rates for both known
and previously unseen DoS and Probe attacks.
Upon successful identification and classification of an attack, the system will
trigger immediate, multi-channel alerts to network administrators, providing detailed
contextual information about the threat. More critically, the system is designed for
proactive mitigation. It will seamlessly integrate with existing firewall infrastructure and
other cybersecurity tools (like SIEMs or IPS). This integration will enable automated
responses, such as dynamically updating firewall rules to block malicious source IPs,
rate-limiting suspicious traffic, or isolating compromised network segments. This real-
time, automated defense mechanism is vital in mitigating the impact of fast-evolving
attacks.
The project's emphasis on non-functional requirements—such as high
performance (low latency, high throughput), robust reliability (high availability, fault
tolerance), stringent security (data confidentiality, integrity, access control), and intuitive
usability—underscores its commitment to delivering a production-ready, enterprise-grade
solution. The modular architecture, coupled with modern software practices like
containerization, will ensure maintainability, scalability, and portability. By combining
the adaptive power of Genetic Algorithms with the analytical prowess of AI/ML/DL, this
project aims to deliver a significantly more intelligent, resilient, and automated approach
to network security, providing a critical defense against the pervasive threat of DoS and
Probe attacks.
