Whispers in End Hopping: High-Robustness Network Covert Channel Based on End Spreading
The massive use of end information in the end hopping system not only significantly improves the proactive defense capability but also reveals great potential for covert communication. However, the development of existing network covert channels is hindered by various elimination techniques and a la...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/16/7/589 |
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| author | Zhengwen Wang Fangxiao Li Leyi Shi |
| author_facet | Zhengwen Wang Fangxiao Li Leyi Shi |
| author_sort | Zhengwen Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The massive use of end information in the end hopping system not only significantly improves the proactive defense capability but also reveals great potential for covert communication. However, the development of existing network covert channels is hindered by various elimination techniques and a lack of robustness guarantees. In this paper, we first present a novel network covert channel model based on end spreading (CCES) in the end hopping system. We then propose a CCES-based scheme using m-sequence in the hypothetical scenario and theoretically analyze its characteristics, including eavesdropping resistance, loss tolerance, and robust synchronization. To evaluate the performance of the CCES scheme, three evaluation metrics are adopted: non-detectability, robustness, and transmission efficiency. Experimental results show that CCES achieves a bit error rate (BER) below 5% under 30% packet loss, entropy values ranging from 0.15 to 0.82 (comparable to normal traffic), and a transmission efficiency of up to 800 bits per second. These results confirm the CCES scheme’s strong robustness and practical applicability, outperforming traditional covert channels in both reliability and stealth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c31e2c6803ac4fc89c911f5f85569471 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-2489 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Information |
| spelling | doaj-art-c31e2c6803ac4fc89c911f5f855694712025-08-20T03:35:28ZengMDPI AGInformation2078-24892025-07-0116758910.3390/info16070589Whispers in End Hopping: High-Robustness Network Covert Channel Based on End SpreadingZhengwen Wang0Fangxiao Li1Leyi Shi2College of Computer Science and Technology, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaCollege of Computer Science and Technology, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaCollege of Computer Science and Technology, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaThe massive use of end information in the end hopping system not only significantly improves the proactive defense capability but also reveals great potential for covert communication. However, the development of existing network covert channels is hindered by various elimination techniques and a lack of robustness guarantees. In this paper, we first present a novel network covert channel model based on end spreading (CCES) in the end hopping system. We then propose a CCES-based scheme using m-sequence in the hypothetical scenario and theoretically analyze its characteristics, including eavesdropping resistance, loss tolerance, and robust synchronization. To evaluate the performance of the CCES scheme, three evaluation metrics are adopted: non-detectability, robustness, and transmission efficiency. Experimental results show that CCES achieves a bit error rate (BER) below 5% under 30% packet loss, entropy values ranging from 0.15 to 0.82 (comparable to normal traffic), and a transmission efficiency of up to 800 bits per second. These results confirm the CCES scheme’s strong robustness and practical applicability, outperforming traditional covert channels in both reliability and stealth.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/16/7/589network covert channelend spreadingm-sequencerobustnessevaluation metrics |
| spellingShingle | Zhengwen Wang Fangxiao Li Leyi Shi Whispers in End Hopping: High-Robustness Network Covert Channel Based on End Spreading Information network covert channel end spreading m-sequence robustness evaluation metrics |
| title | Whispers in End Hopping: High-Robustness Network Covert Channel Based on End Spreading |
| title_full | Whispers in End Hopping: High-Robustness Network Covert Channel Based on End Spreading |
| title_fullStr | Whispers in End Hopping: High-Robustness Network Covert Channel Based on End Spreading |
| title_full_unstemmed | Whispers in End Hopping: High-Robustness Network Covert Channel Based on End Spreading |
| title_short | Whispers in End Hopping: High-Robustness Network Covert Channel Based on End Spreading |
| title_sort | whispers in end hopping high robustness network covert channel based on end spreading |
| topic | network covert channel end spreading m-sequence robustness evaluation metrics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/16/7/589 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhengwenwang whispersinendhoppinghighrobustnessnetworkcovertchannelbasedonendspreading AT fangxiaoli whispersinendhoppinghighrobustnessnetworkcovertchannelbasedonendspreading AT leyishi whispersinendhoppinghighrobustnessnetworkcovertchannelbasedonendspreading |