AI/ML Based Detection and Categorization of Covert Communication in IPv6 Network

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Rahman, Mohammad Wali Ur, Lin, Yu-Zheng, Weeks, Carter, Ruddell, David, Gabriellini, Jeff, Hayes, Bill, Hariri, Salim, Satam, Pratik, Ziegler Jr, Edward V.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Rahman, Mohammad Wali Ur
Lin, Yu-Zheng
Weeks, Carter
Ruddell, David
Gabriellini, Jeff
Hayes, Bill
Hariri, Salim
Satam, Pratik
Ziegler Jr, Edward V.
author_facet Rahman, Mohammad Wali Ur
Lin, Yu-Zheng
Weeks, Carter
Ruddell, David
Gabriellini, Jeff
Hayes, Bill
Hariri, Salim
Satam, Pratik
Ziegler Jr, Edward V.
contents The flexibility and complexity of IPv6 extension headers allow attackers to create covert channels or bypass security mechanisms, leading to potential data breaches or system compromises. The mature development of machine learning has become the primary detection technology option used to mitigate covert communication threats. However, the complexity of detecting covert communication, evolving injection techniques, and scarcity of data make building machine-learning models challenging. In previous related research, machine learning has shown good performance in detecting covert communications, but oversimplified attack scenario assumptions cannot represent the complexity of modern covert technologies and make it easier for machine learning models to detect covert communications. To bridge this gap, in this study, we analyzed the packet structure and network traffic behavior of IPv6, used encryption algorithms, and performed covert communication injection without changing network packet behavior to get closer to real attack scenarios. In addition to analyzing and injecting methods for covert communications, this study also uses comprehensive machine learning techniques to train the model proposed in this study to detect threats, including traditional decision trees such as random forests and gradient boosting, as well as complex neural network architectures such as CNNs and LSTMs, to achieve detection accuracy of over 90\%. This study details the methods used for dataset augmentation and the comparative performance of the applied models, reinforcing insights into the adaptability and resilience of the machine learning application in IPv6 covert communication. We further introduce a Generative AI-driven script refinement framework, leveraging prompt engineering as a preliminary exploration of how generative agents can assist in covert communication detection and model enhancement.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_10627
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle AI/ML Based Detection and Categorization of Covert Communication in IPv6 Network
Rahman, Mohammad Wali Ur
Lin, Yu-Zheng
Weeks, Carter
Ruddell, David
Gabriellini, Jeff
Hayes, Bill
Hariri, Salim
Satam, Pratik
Ziegler Jr, Edward V.
Cryptography and Security
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Networking and Internet Architecture
The flexibility and complexity of IPv6 extension headers allow attackers to create covert channels or bypass security mechanisms, leading to potential data breaches or system compromises. The mature development of machine learning has become the primary detection technology option used to mitigate covert communication threats. However, the complexity of detecting covert communication, evolving injection techniques, and scarcity of data make building machine-learning models challenging. In previous related research, machine learning has shown good performance in detecting covert communications, but oversimplified attack scenario assumptions cannot represent the complexity of modern covert technologies and make it easier for machine learning models to detect covert communications. To bridge this gap, in this study, we analyzed the packet structure and network traffic behavior of IPv6, used encryption algorithms, and performed covert communication injection without changing network packet behavior to get closer to real attack scenarios. In addition to analyzing and injecting methods for covert communications, this study also uses comprehensive machine learning techniques to train the model proposed in this study to detect threats, including traditional decision trees such as random forests and gradient boosting, as well as complex neural network architectures such as CNNs and LSTMs, to achieve detection accuracy of over 90\%. This study details the methods used for dataset augmentation and the comparative performance of the applied models, reinforcing insights into the adaptability and resilience of the machine learning application in IPv6 covert communication. We further introduce a Generative AI-driven script refinement framework, leveraging prompt engineering as a preliminary exploration of how generative agents can assist in covert communication detection and model enhancement.
title AI/ML Based Detection and Categorization of Covert Communication in IPv6 Network
topic Cryptography and Security
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Networking and Internet Architecture
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.10627