System and method for covertly transmitting a payload of data

A system for covertly transmitting a payload of data within a network, said system comprising:

• one or more gateways, each programmed with protocols;
• an origin host;
• a destination host having an address;
• and
• a communication pathway within the network and connecting the destination host to the origin host along the one or more gateways;
• wherein said origin host is configured to select one or said one or more gateways to serve as a blind host, construct a datagram comprising the payload and a source address field indicating the address for the destination host, and transmit the datagram to the blind host;
• wherein the datagram is configured to trigger creation of an error message at the blind host according to the protocols.

A method for covertly transmitting a payload of data within an IP network, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a blind host, wherein the blind host is located along a communication pathway of the IP network between an origin host and a destination host and wherein the blind host is programmed with protocols;
• constructing a datagram comprising the payload located within at least a header, wherein a source address field of the datagram contains an IP address for the destination host, wherein the destination address field of the datagram contains an IP address for a fictitious host which is plausibly located within the IP network, and wherein the datagram comprises a time to live value configured to trigger creation of an error message upon receipt at the blind host according to the protocols;
• transmitting the datagram to the blind host;
• generating, at the blind host, the error message comprising the payload pursuant to the protocols;
• transmitting, from the blind host to the destination host, the error message;
• and
• extracting, at the destination host, the payload from the error message.