MAC Layer Misbehavior Research Articles

A new predictive approach for the MAC layer misbehavior in IEEE 802.11 networks

PurposeAd hoc mobile networks are commonplace in every aspect of our everyday life. They become essential in many industries and have uses in logistics, science and the military. However, because they operate mostly in open spaces, they are exposed to a variety of dangers. The purpose of this study is to introduce a novel method for detecting the MAC layer misbehavior.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed novel approach is based on exponential smoothing for throughput prediction to address this MAC layer misbehavior. The real and expected throughput are processed using an exponential smoothing algorithm to identify this attack, and if these metrics exhibit a trending pattern, an alarm is then sent.FindingsThe effect of the IEEE 802.11 MAC layer misbehavior on throughput was examined using the NS-2 network simulator, as well as the approval of our novel strategy. The authors have found that a smoothing factor value that is near to 0 provides a very accurate throughput forecast that takes into consideration the recent history of the updated values of the real value. As for the smoothing factor values that are near to 1, they are used to identify MAC layer misbehavior.Originality/valueAccording to the authors’ modest knowledge, this new scheme has not been proposed in the state of the art for the detection of greedy behavior in mobile ad hoc networks.

Misbehavior in Multi-Channel MAC Protocols

Multi-channel MAC (MMAC) protocols are designed to coordinate multi-user access to several non-overlapping frequency bands. They are primarily tasked with the efficient and fair bandwidth utilization under a variety of traffic load conditions, presuming that terminals follow the protocol specifications. However, selfish terminals can manipulate the protocol parameters to gain an unfair share of the common bandwidth. The problem of selfish MAC-layer misbehavior is well-studied for single-channel MAC protocols, but little attention has been paid when channel access is coordinated across multiple channels. In this paper, we address the problem of MAC-layer misbehavior in the multi-channel domain. We identify misbehavior strategies for popular classes of MMAC protocols (split-phase and dedicated control channel MMACs) and evaluate their impact on network throughput and fairness. We show that selfish terminals can easily isolate frequency bands for exclusive use without violating the protocol specifications. We develop corresponding detection and mitigation strategies that greatly reduce the throughput gains due to misbehavior.

Boycott based enhanced correction scheme for mac layer misbehavior in wireless networks

In IEEE 802.11 standard, the wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) provides transmission fairness to nodes in a network, but some nodes that called misbehaving nodes (MNs) can take advantage and modify its MAC parameters to improve its own performance at the expense of other nodes (honest nodes HNs). Many solutions have been proposed to solve this problem, but most of these solutions are based on the assumption that MNs misbehave just one time. Therefor, in this paper, we propose a boycott based enhanced correction scheme for mac layer misbehavior in wireless networks to correct and react against MNs and increasing the HNs throughput.To correct these MNs, HNs collectively react and correct the MNs. When the misbehavior is detected for the first time, HNs react in an appropriate way by decreasing the throughput of MNs, but if MNs misbehave for the second time HNs start to react aggressively and consequently decrease MNs throughput dramatically. In the third misbehavior, HNs boycott the MNs and reject all messages that came from these nodes. Simulation result shows the efficiency of our proposed scheme to improve HNs throughput and boycott MNs.

A Study on IEEE 802.11 MAC Layer Misbehavior under Different Back-off Algorithms

Security of any wireless network is an important issue. The IEEE 802.11 medium access control can be violated by several native or smart attacks that result to downgrade network performance. In recent years, there are several studies using analytical model to analyze MAC layer misbehavior issue to explore this problem but focused on binary exponential back-off only. Moreover, a practical condition such as freezing back-off issue is not included in the previous models. Hence, this paper presents a novel analytical model of the IEEE 802.11 MAC to thoroughly understand impacts of misbehaving node on network throughput and delay parameters. Especially, the model can express detailed back-off algorithms so that comforts to evaluate the network performance under some typical attacks by numerical simulation method.

Identifying and Averting the MAC Layer Misbehavior in AD-HOC Networks

The all-encompassing nature of the adhoc network and its design architecture in the multi-hop communication system, where trust value of the participant nodes cannot be necessarily taken for granted, is prone to selfish misbehavior by participant nodes. Therefore, the compliance of the MAC layer protocol has become pertinent to the proper functioning of the network. The optimal performance of the network and the judicious and fare usage of network resources can only be achieved by reliable and timely detection of illegitimate protocol operation. In this paper, it is envisaged that the determination factor quantifies the probability of the misbehavior whereas the trust value quantifies the probability of the well-behaved nodes. Thus, these values provide fair insight into the behavioral pattern of any ad-hoc network. The robust detection framework is, therefore implemented to timely notification of the selfish node. Here, the inherent defense mechanism is also incorporated which enhances efficiency, efficacy of the network and provides fare utilization of resources among the nodes. Proposed scheme is validated through simulation results using NS2.

Multivariate Control Chart for the Detection of MAC Layer Misbehavior in Mobile ad Hoc Networks

The share nature of the transmission channel in IEEE 802.11 makes the network vulnerable to several attacks like the MAC layer misbehavior which can be similar to denial of service attack. In this way cheating node by choosing smaller backoff timer attempts to increase its resources at the expense to other stations which respect the protocol.In this paper, we suggest a novel detection scheme of such attack using a multivariate control chart currently exist in industrial management with a large success. Our proposed strategy comes to replace the univariate Shewhart control chart which already exists in the literature research for the detection of greedy nodes, because it reduces the number of control chart. As we will prove by NS-2 simulations, the proposed mechanism doesn’t require any modification to the 802.11 standard, it works in real time and very easy in implementation though it appears somewhat complicated because of the computation of the mean and the covariance matrix in the absence of the MAC layer misbehavior attack.

Real-Time MAC-Layer Selfish Misbehavior Detection and Prevention Technique for Wireless Networks

Background/Objectives: Contention issue in the IEEE 802.11 based wireless network is resolved using CSMA/CA protocol that aims to ensure the Fair Share of the channel to each node in the network. A malicious node can manipulate the backoff parameters and gain large share of network access. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Since back off parameters are programmable field it can change the value any time. So real time detection of malicious behavior is required. For Real Time Detection a Markov chain-based analytical model is being used. Since the Despite of all its advantages there have been no mechanism used to monitor the MAC layer misbehavior of all the nodes in the wireless network. Only tagged nodes are being monitored. Findings: Adding to the challenge of identifying and isolating the malicious node from the network is the non-deterministic nature and distributed functionality of IEEE 802.11 based networks. In order to overcome the problem regarding the defensive mechanism and for better efficiency, this Research work has developed an efficient technique called Markov-RED-FT. By using this model all the nodes in the network can be monitored for malicious misbehavior and the flow trust value is calculated to penalize the malicious node. This proposed Markov-RED-FT employs the flow trust value to safe guard the legitimate flows. Malicious flows would be with lower trust values while legitimate flows would be with higher ones. Application/Improvements: This research work implemented the proposed Markov-RED-FT and from the results, it is established that the proposed model is performing well as compared with the existing model in terms of average detection delayand network throughput.

Defense Mechanisms against Injecting Traffic with MAC Layer Misbehavior Detection and Cooperation Stimulation for Autonomous Ad Hoc Networks

Defense Mechanisms against Injecting Traffic with MAC Layer Misbehavior Detection and Cooperation Stimulation for Autonomous Ad Hoc Networks

A novel scheme to prevent MAC layer misbehavior in IEEE 802.11 ad hoc networks

The characteristics of ad hoc networks, such as the absence of infrastructure, dynamic topology, shared wireless medium and resource-constrained environment pose various security challenges. Most of the previous research focused on the detection of the misbehavior after it occurred. However, in this paper we propose a new way of thinking to evade the occurrence of misbehavior. In our scheme, Local Most Trustworthy node (LMT node) is allowed to assign the backoff values to originator, rather than permitting the originator to choose the backoff values by itself. With this MAC layer misbehavior avoidance mechanism, the misuse of the backoff in MAC layer in 802.11 DCF can be prevented.

Evaluation of Detection Algorithms for MAC Layer Misbehavior: Theory and Experiments

We revisit the problem of detecting greedy behavior in the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol by evaluating the performance of two previously proposed schemes: DOMINO and the sequential probability ratio test (SPRT). Our evaluation is carried out in four steps. We first derive a new analytical formulation of the SPRT that considers access to the wireless medium in discrete time slots. Then, we introduce an analytical model for DOMINO. As a third step, we evaluate the theoretical performance of SPRT and DOMINO with newly introduced metrics that take into account the repeated nature of the tests. This theoretical comparison provides two major insights into the problem: it confirms the optimality of SPRT, and motivates us to define yet another test: a nonparametric CUSUM statistic that shares the same intuition as DOMINO but gives better performance. We finalize the paper with experimental results, confirming the correctness of our theoretical analysis and validating the introduction of the new nonparametric CUSUM statistic.

MAC layer misbehavior in wireless networks: challenges and solutions

IEEE 802.11 CSMA/CA has been widely deployed as the primary MAC protocol for ad hoc networks and wireless LANs. It was designed with the assumption that nodes would follow proper operation of the protocol. Nodes, however, may choose to deviate in order to either obtain an unfair share of the available bandwidth or disrupt the services of the network. Accordingly, a misbehavior rooted at the MAC layer can be classified as selfish or malicious behavior. This article surveys the research activities related to MAC layer misbehavior; based on the operating principles and the objective of misbehaving nodes, we classify MAC layer misbehavior and present descriptions for each solution. We conclude with a brief summary of the key ideas and a general direction for future work.

DREAM: A system for detection and reaction against MAC layer misbehavior in ad hoc networks

MAC layer misbehavior due to selfish or malicious reasons can significantly degrade the performance of mobile ad hoc networks. Currently, detection systems for handling selfish misbehavior has been proposed and studied. In this paper we study a new class of malicious misbehaviors that causes transmission timeout of MAC frames at either the transmitter side or the receiver side. A misbehaving node fully cooperates by forwarding packets for other nodes and completely adheres to the proper selection of backoff intervals; however, it maliciously forces the forwarding operation to fail in order to either disrupt the route discovery process or cause damage to the existing flows routed through itself. We design and implement a new detection and reaction system DREAM (a system for Detection and REAction to timeout mac layer Misbehavior) that identifies the malicious nodes through a set of monitoring and reaction procedures. Once a misbehaving node is detected, the system reacts, by adapting simple protocol parameters, to mitigate the negative effects. We describe the detection system and the different reaction procedures for different misbehaviors. We evaluate through network simulations the effectiveness of the system in detecting malicious nodes and improving the network performance.