A Comprehensive Analysis of Routing Vulnerabilities and Defense Strategies in IoT Networks

Abstract: The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized various domains, offering significant benefits through enhanced interconnectivity and data exchange. However, the security challenges associated with IoT networks have become increasingly prominent owing to their inherent vulnerability. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the network layer in IoT architectures, highlighting the potential risks posed by routing attacks, such as blackholes, wormholes, sinkholes, Sybil, and selective forwarding attacks. This study explores the unique challenges posed by the constrained resources, heterogeneity, and dynamic topology of IoT networks, which complicate the implementation of robust security measures. Various countermeasures, including trust-based mechanisms, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), and routing protocols, are evaluated for their effectiveness in mitigating these threats. This study also emphasizes the importance of considering misbehavior observation, trust management, and lightweight defense strategies in the design of secure IoT networks. These findings contribute to the development of comprehensive defense mechanisms tailored to the specific challenges of IoT environments.