LineSwitch: Efficiently Managing Switch Flow in Software-Defined Networking while Effectively Tackling DoS Attacks

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is a new networking architecture which aims to provide better decoupling between network control (control plane) and data forwarding functionalities (data plane). This separation introduces several benefits, such as a directly programmable and (virtually) centralized network control. However, researchers showed that the required communication channel between the control and data plane of SDN creates a potential bottleneck in the system, introducing new vulnerabilities. Indeed, this behavior could be exploited to mount powerful attacks, such as the control plane saturation attack, that can severely hinder the performance of the whole network. In this paper we present LineSwitch, an efficient and effective solution against control plane saturation attack. LineSwitch combines SYN proxy techniques and probabilistic blacklisting of network traffic. We implemented LineSwitch as an extension of OpenFlow, the current reference implementation of SDN, and evaluate our solution considering different traffic scenarios (with and without attack). The results of our preliminary experiments confirm that, compared to the state-of-the-art, LineSwitch reduces the time overhead up to 30%, while ensuring the same level of protection.Comment: In Proceedings of the 10th ACM Symposium on Information, Computer and Communications Security (ASIACCS 2015). To appea

Security for the Industrial IoT: The Case for Information-Centric Networking

Industrial production plants traditionally include sensors for monitoring or documenting processes, and actuators for enabling corrective actions in cases of misconfigurations, failures, or dangerous events. With the advent of the IoT, embedded controllers link these `things' to local networks that often are of low power wireless kind, and are interconnected via gateways to some cloud from the global Internet. Inter-networked sensors and actuators in the industrial IoT form a critical subsystem while frequently operating under harsh conditions. It is currently under debate how to approach inter-networking of critical industrial components in a safe and secure manner. In this paper, we analyze the potentials of ICN for providing a secure and robust networking solution for constrained controllers in industrial safety systems. We showcase hazardous gas sensing in widespread industrial environments, such as refineries, and compare with IP-based approaches such as CoAP and MQTT. Our findings indicate that the content-centric security model, as well as enhanced DoS resistance are important arguments for deploying Information Centric Networking in a safety-critical industrial IoT. Evaluation of the crypto efforts on the RIOT operating system for content security reveal its feasibility for common deployment scenarios.Comment: To be published at IEEE WF-IoT 201

Active router approach to defeating denial-of-service attacks in networks

Denial-of-service attacks represent a major threat to modern organisations who are increasingly dependent on the integrity of their computer networks. A new approach to combating such threats introduces active routers into the network architecture. These active routers offer the combined benefits of intrusion detection, firewall functionality and data encryption and work collaboratively to provide a distributed defence mechanism. The paper provides a detailed description of the design and operation of the algorithms used by the active routers and demonstrates how this approach is able to defeat a SYN and SMURF attack. Other approaches to network design, such as the introduction of a firewall and intrusion detection systems, can be used to protect networks, however, weaknesses remain. It is proposed that the adoption of an active router approach to protecting networks overcomes many of these weaknesses and therefore offers enhanced protection

The not so smart, smart grid - potential security risks associated with the deployment of smart grid technologies

The electricity grid has been up until now a relatively stable artifice of modern industrialized nations. The power grids are the most widespread wired networks in the world. They are heavily regulated and standardized to protect the integrity, stability and reliability of supply. The grids have been essentially closed systems, this is now rapidly changing with the introduction of the network enabled smart meter. These meters are “web” accessible, connect and interact directly with electrical appliances in domiciles and businesses. This move now brings a range of extreme risks and complexities into these stable networks. This paper explores the security issues and potential problems associated with current moves to provide these smart meters to existing grid connections