Message Denial and Alteration on IEEE 802.15.4 Low-Power Radio Networks

The severely constrained resources present in many IEEE 802.15.4 wireless nodes limits the available security protocols which these nodes can run. Selecting protection for the resource-constrained devices requires understanding the attacks which can be performed. This paper presents several simple attacks which allow a reader of any background to understand the vulnerability of IEEE 802.15.4 networks. Denial of Service (DoS), Passive Listening, and Man In The Middle (MITM) attacks are demonstrated running from a simple and low-cost platform. Considerations for real-life deployments of the attacks covers issues such as defeating channel hopping or attacking at a distance. The ease of performing the attacks demonstrates why security is critical on all networks. Protection against the attacks through both academic and industry-developed standards is briefly discussed.