FIHIM: a framework for information hiding in IPv6 using micro-protocols

FIHIM: a framework for information hiding in IPv6 using micro-protocols

연구 분야: Networking

학회: International Journal of Information Technology

Information hiding in network traffic is generally done through network covert channels (NCCs). As Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is replacing Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) rapidly, a lot of research is being done on the security aspect of IPv6. Information hiding used with the intention to ensure the privacy of data is a way of assuring information security. Hence, this paper proposes FIHIM, a novel Framework that implements Information Hiding in IPv6 using Micro-protocols. This framework offers two covert channels for hidden communication, IHIM-C, catering to the user’s requirements of a higher capacity covert channel, and IHIM-U, a more undetectable covert channel. A prototype of FIHIM was implemented and analyzed over a LAN for three information-hiding characteristics–capacity, robustness, and undetectability. With IHIM-C as the chosen covert channel, a fixed capacity of 32 bits per IPv6 packet was achieved and with IHIM-U as the chosen covert channel, a minimum capacity of 11 bits per IPv6 packet was achieved with enhanced undetectability. Thus, FIHIM can be utilized for IPv6-based covert communications for either higher capacity-based NCC or higher undetectability-based NCC. Furthermore, FIHIM can be used to generate a dataset containing covert communication-based traffic that can be used for developing technologies for detecting IPv6-based NCCs.