Novel three-party password-based authenticated key exchange protocol for wireless sensor networks

Abstract

Despite recent improvements of the capabilities of wireless sensors, network protocol support for key exchange is still lagging behind. Three-party password-based authenticated key exchange protocols allow sensors communicate over an open network securely using high entropy session keys originated from a low entropy password. Due to their convenience in building a secure communication channel, many password-based key exchange protocols have been proposed and investigated over the years. Nevertheless, protocol must be designed carefully so as not to be broken using dictionary attacks in which an adversary tries all possible passwords in an attempt to figure out the correct one. Besides, protocol must be environment-friendly. That is say, the protocol should not pose too much loads on wireless sensors. And hence, a novel 3PAKE protocol is proposed for wireless sensor networks, which has better performance compared with similar protocols. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.