Enhanced secure time synchronisation protocol for IEEE802.15.4e-based industrial Internet of Things

Time synchronisation is a fundamental requirement for the IEEE802.15.4e-based industrial Internet of Things, allowing it to reach low-power and high-reliability wireless network through time synchronisation. If malicious adversaries launch time synchronisation attacks to IEEE802.15.4e-based networks, the entire network communication will be paralysed. In this study, the authors introduce two types of time synchronisation attacks: (i) absolute slot number (ASN) and (ii) timeslot template attack. In ASN attack, the new nodes may receive an incorrect ASN value, which prevents synchronisation with the typical network, while in the timeslot template attack, the malicious node can make the legitimate nodes calculate the error clock offset. The authors propose an enhanced secure time synchronisation protocol to defend against these attacks, which include Sec_ASN and TOF algorithm. The Sec_ASN and threshold filter (TOF) algorithms are used to defend against ASN attack and timeslot template attacks, respectively. Finally, the authors run a thorough set of simulations to assess the effectiveness of the proposed attacks as well as the proposed countermeasure. The results show that the attacks can significantly destroy the time synchronisation protocol, but can be successfully defended using the proposed mechanisms.