Header encryption of IEEE802.15.4

Abstract

In this paper, we mainly focus on the security of 802.15.4 MAC (Media Access Control) which used in Zigbee technology. Today, 802.15.4 Medium Access Control (MAC) is used in personal area networks, for example industrial automation, medical, home automation. However, encryption on MAC data payload have been introduced, but Medium Access Control (MAC) header is still non-encrypted. Authentication of MAC header is certainly done with the use of Data Integrity by giving Message Authentication Code or Message Integrity Code (MIC). Medium Access Control (MAC) header frame has three fields: frame control, addresses and auxiliary security. Among all of these fields of MAC header which includes frame control, sequence number, source and destination addresses and auxiliary security header (ASH) must be encrypted to secure it against some attacks like ACK attack, replay protection attack, snooping attack, denial of service attack, CTS replay, RTS replay. Auxiliary security header have the details about the security of data payload which must not be known to intruders. Our aim for securing it is multi level security. This header field has a total of 40 bytes. For encryption of these 40 bytes of Medium Access Control (MAC) header, we have used Advance Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm, which creates best confusion and diffusion. Advance Encryption Standard algorithm has three types of frame structure: 128 bits, 192 bits, 256 bits. To encrypt these 40 bytes of Medium Access Control (MAC) header we have used two Advance Encryption Standard (AES) algorithms of 192 bits and 128 bits which both are working parallel together.