Exploring Symmetric Cryptography for Secure Network Reprogramming

Recent secure code-update protocols for sensor networks have been based on asymmetric-crypto primitives such as digital signatures. Our approach, Castor, explores the feasibility of securing an existing code-update protocol, Deluge, using symmetric-crypto mechanisms that are more suited to the resource constraints of sensor nodes. Castor involves a synergistic combination of a one-way hash-chain, a one-way key-chain, and a sequence of MACs with delayed key-disclosure to enable sensor nodes to verify the update’s authenticity. We guarantee that no correct node will ever install or forward a compromised part of an update, while addressing the performance issues related to delayed keydisclosure.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: ICDCSW
• Authors: Donnie H. Kim, Rajeev Gandhi, Priya Narasimhan
• Keywords: Code-update Protocol, Distributed And Parallel Computing, ICDCSW 2007, Secure Code-update Protocols, Sensor Nodes