Implementation of Node Authentication for WSN Using Hash Chains

This paper presents the design and implementation of a lightweight node authentication protocol which comprises of node registration, node authentication and key establishment phases. The solution leverages the low computational overheads associated with cryptographically secure one-way hash chains and Elliptical Curve Crytography (ECC) without using any digital signature algorithm or any public key cryptography. The usage of hidden generator point derived from hash-chains provides defense against a man-in-the-middle attack which is prominent in ECDH (Elliptical Curve Diffie-Hellman) due to lack of entity authentication. The authentication protocol has been simulated on Tossim and its performance bench marking has also been carried out.