RPL-Based IoT Networks under Simple and Complex Routing Security Attacks: An Experimental Study
Effective security support still remains a challenge even for a standardized Internet of Things network protocol such as the IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL). It provides limited protection against external security attacks but stays highly vulnerable to internal routing...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4878 |
| _version_ | 1797606562089402368 |
|---|---|
| author | Ibrahim S. Alsukayti Mohammed Alreshoodi |
| author_facet | Ibrahim S. Alsukayti Mohammed Alreshoodi |
| author_sort | Ibrahim S. Alsukayti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Effective security support still remains a challenge even for a standardized Internet of Things network protocol such as the IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL). It provides limited protection against external security attacks but stays highly vulnerable to internal routing attacks. The inherent RPL design of RPL, particularly its topology establishment and maintenance mechanism, makes it easy to initiate such kinds of attacks which target overall network performance and topology stability. Establishing a firm and practical understanding of the impacts of these attacks on RPL networks is still critically needed for further investigation. This is more demanding when considering varying-scale RPL deployments targeted by complex attack scenarios. In this research work, an extensive experimental study of these critical RPL routing attacks considering simple-to-complex attack scenarios in varying-scale RPL network setups is presented. It provides a practical contribution toward experimentally understanding the effectiveness of internal routing attacks when targeting RPL-based IoT networks. The main objective is to provide future research works with a practical reference to the effectiveness of these security attacks and the overall performance of RPL networks under routing attacks. The results indicate the adverse impacts of routing attacks on the overall performance of RPL networks. Even in simple attack scenarios, it was found that the attacked networks experienced noticeable degradation in QoS performance and topology stability. In addition, the attacks incurred considerable increases in energy consumption and control traffic overhead. These were more evident in large-scale experimental setups and also under composite and hybrid routing attacks. QoS performance and topology stability degraded by more than 90% whereas energy consumption and network overhead increased by more than 200%. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:16:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7710c0a99e9a4bba92677d3cba8cef78 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:16:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7710c0a99e9a4bba92677d3cba8cef782023-11-17T18:10:34ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-04-01138487810.3390/app13084878RPL-Based IoT Networks under Simple and Complex Routing Security Attacks: An Experimental StudyIbrahim S. Alsukayti0Mohammed Alreshoodi1Department of Computer Science, College of Computer, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaUnit of Scientific Research, Applied College, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi ArabiaEffective security support still remains a challenge even for a standardized Internet of Things network protocol such as the IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL). It provides limited protection against external security attacks but stays highly vulnerable to internal routing attacks. The inherent RPL design of RPL, particularly its topology establishment and maintenance mechanism, makes it easy to initiate such kinds of attacks which target overall network performance and topology stability. Establishing a firm and practical understanding of the impacts of these attacks on RPL networks is still critically needed for further investigation. This is more demanding when considering varying-scale RPL deployments targeted by complex attack scenarios. In this research work, an extensive experimental study of these critical RPL routing attacks considering simple-to-complex attack scenarios in varying-scale RPL network setups is presented. It provides a practical contribution toward experimentally understanding the effectiveness of internal routing attacks when targeting RPL-based IoT networks. The main objective is to provide future research works with a practical reference to the effectiveness of these security attacks and the overall performance of RPL networks under routing attacks. The results indicate the adverse impacts of routing attacks on the overall performance of RPL networks. Even in simple attack scenarios, it was found that the attacked networks experienced noticeable degradation in QoS performance and topology stability. In addition, the attacks incurred considerable increases in energy consumption and control traffic overhead. These were more evident in large-scale experimental setups and also under composite and hybrid routing attacks. QoS performance and topology stability degraded by more than 90% whereas energy consumption and network overhead increased by more than 200%.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4878Internet of Things (IoT)wireless networksnetwork securityenergy efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Ibrahim S. Alsukayti Mohammed Alreshoodi RPL-Based IoT Networks under Simple and Complex Routing Security Attacks: An Experimental Study Applied Sciences Internet of Things (IoT) wireless networks network security energy efficiency |
| title | RPL-Based IoT Networks under Simple and Complex Routing Security Attacks: An Experimental Study |
| title_full | RPL-Based IoT Networks under Simple and Complex Routing Security Attacks: An Experimental Study |
| title_fullStr | RPL-Based IoT Networks under Simple and Complex Routing Security Attacks: An Experimental Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | RPL-Based IoT Networks under Simple and Complex Routing Security Attacks: An Experimental Study |
| title_short | RPL-Based IoT Networks under Simple and Complex Routing Security Attacks: An Experimental Study |
| title_sort | rpl based iot networks under simple and complex routing security attacks an experimental study |
| topic | Internet of Things (IoT) wireless networks network security energy efficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4878 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ibrahimsalsukayti rplbasediotnetworksundersimpleandcomplexroutingsecurityattacksanexperimentalstudy AT mohammedalreshoodi rplbasediotnetworksundersimpleandcomplexroutingsecurityattacksanexperimentalstudy |