Date of Graduation
12-2008
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Computer Science and Computer Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Thompson, Dale R.
Committee Member/Reader
Deaton, Russell J.
Committee Member/Second Reader
Thompson, Craig W.
Abstract
Steganography is the process of hiding a secret message within another message such that it is difficult to detect the presence of the secret message. In other words, the existence of the secret message is hidden. A covert channel refers to the actual medium that is used to communicate the information such as a message, image, or file. This honors thesis uses steganography within the source address fields of Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) packets to create a covert channel through which clandestine messages are passed from one party to another. A fully functional computer program was designed and written that transparently embeds messages into the source address fields of packets and decodes embedded messages from these packets across IPv6 networks. This demonstrates the possibility of a covert channel within a protocol that will eventually be the default Internet protocol. This channel could be used for a malicious purpose such as stealing encryption keys, passwords, or other secrets from remote hosts in a manner not easily detectable, but it could also be used for a noble cause such as passing messages secretly under the watchful eyes of an oppressive regime. The demonstration of the covert channel in itself increases the overall information security of society by bringing awareness to the existence of such a steganographic medium.
Citation
Miller, B. (2008). Steganography in IPV6. Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/csceuht/22
