Advanced Network Packet Analyzer

Python Socket Programming Network Security Packet Analysis

A sophisticated network packet sniffer that provides real-time analysis of network traffic, capturing and decoding various protocol layers including Ethernet, IPv4, TCP, UDP, and ICMP.

Project Overview

This Network Packet Analyzer is a powerful tool designed to capture and analyze network packets in real-time. It provides detailed insights into network traffic by dissecting packets at various protocol layers:

  • Ethernet Frame Analysis
  • IPv4 Packet Inspection
  • TCP/UDP Segment Analysis
  • ICMP Packet Decoding
  • Human-readable Data Presentation

Try It Yourself

Prerequisites

  • Python 3.6 or higher
  • Administrator/root privileges (required for raw socket access)

Installation & Usage

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/monika149/PRODIGY_07_05.git

2. Navigate to the project directory and run with administrator privileges:

# For Windows (Run as Administrator):
python network_analyzer.py

# For Linux/Mac (Run with sudo):
sudo python3 network_analyzer.py

⚠️ Ethical Usage Disclaimer

This network packet analyzer is provided for educational purposes only. It should only be used on networks you own or have explicit permission to test. Any unauthorized use of this tool to monitor or intercept network traffic may be illegal and is strictly prohibited.

  • Only use on networks you own or have permission to test
  • Respect privacy and data protection laws
  • Do not use for malicious purposes
  • Obtain necessary authorizations before testing

Technical Implementation

Core Functionality

# Packet Capture Setup
def main():
    conn = socket.socket(socket.AF_PACKET, socket.SOCK_RAW, socket.ntohs(3))
    
    while True:
        raw_data, addr = conn.recvfrom(65536)
        dest_mac, src_mac, eth_proto, data = ethernet_frame(raw_data)
        
        if eth_proto == 8:  # IPv4
            version, header_length, ttl, proto, src, target, data = ipv4_packet(data)
            # Process different protocols (TCP, UDP, ICMP)

Protocol Handlers

# TCP Packet Analysis
def tcp_packet(data):
    src_port, dest_port, seq_num, ack, offset_reserved_flags = struct.unpack('! H H L L H', data[:14])
    offset = (offset_reserved_flags >> 12) * 4
    flags = extract_flags(offset_reserved_flags)
    return src_port, dest_port, seq_num, ack, flags, data[offset:]

# UDP Segment Analysis
def udp_segment(data):
    src_port, dest_port, size = struct.unpack('! H H 2x H', data[:8])
    return src_port, dest_port, size, data[8:]

Key Features

Real-time Monitoring

Captures and analyzes network packets in real-time, providing immediate insights into network traffic.

Protocol Support

Comprehensive support for multiple protocols including TCP, UDP, ICMP, and IPv4.

Data Visualization

Presents packet data in both hexadecimal and human-readable formats for better analysis.

Logging System

Maintains detailed logs of all captured packets for future analysis and documentation.

Technical Challenges & Solutions

  • Raw Socket Handling: Implemented careful error handling and proper socket configuration to capture raw network packets efficiently.
  • Protocol Parsing: Developed robust parsing mechanisms using struct module for accurate packet dissection.
  • Performance Optimization: Optimized data processing to handle high-volume network traffic without performance degradation.