A secure routing protocol for ad hoc networks

TLDR

Recent ad hoc network research has focused on routing services while largely ignoring security. The authors propose a solution for the managed‑open scenario, where no infrastructure is pre‑deployed but limited prior security coordination is available. They analyze security threats to AODV and DSR and propose a managed‑open solution. The authors identify three environments with distinct security requirements and demonstrate that their certificate‑based protocol, ARAN, defeats all identified attacks.

Abstract

Most recent ad hoc network research has focused on providing routing services without considering security. We detail security threats against ad hoc routing protocols, specifically examining AODV and DSR. In light of these threats, we identify three different environments with distinct security requirements. We propose a solution to one, the managed-open scenario where no network infrastructure is pre-deployed, but a small amount of prior security coordination is expected. Our protocol, authenticated routing for ad hoc networks (ARAN), is based on certificates and successfully defeats all identified attacks.