45151226
A Framework for Trusted Wireless Sensor Networks
Wireless sensor technologies have become increasingly important in a variety of areas, including mission-critical applications. However, there are still many obstacles that we need to overcome before we apply the current wireless sensor network (WSN) technologies. Unlike traditional computing devices in a wired environment, the WSN faces significant challenges from wireless node devices, which usually have limitations in computational power, energy, and their working environment. In this paper we introduce a framework for a trusted large-scale WSN that provides a longer sensor lifetime, cost effectiveness, security, survivability, and scalable management. Our framework uses clustering mechanisms and multiple cluster heads within a cluster where we switch the cluster heads based on their current energy levels or security/survivability reasons. We also present the Extended Random Key Pre-distribution scheme adapted for such a framework.
17152003
WLAN Security: Current and Future
Wireless LAN deployment improves users' mobility, but it also brings a range of security issues that affect emerging standards and related technologies.
17648841
Role-based access control on the web
Current approaches to access control on the Web servers do not scale to enterprise-wide systems because they are mostly based on individual user identities. Hence we were motivated by the need to manage and enforce the strong and efficient RBAC access control technology in large-scale Web environments. To satisfy this requirement, we identify two different architectures for RBAC on the Web, called user-pull and server-pull. To demonstrate feasibility, we implement each architecture by integrating and extending well-known technologies such as cookies, X.509, SSL, and LDAP, providing compatibility with current web technologies. We describe the technologies we use to implement RBAC on the Web in different architectures. Based on our experience, we also compare the tradeoffs of the different approaches.
42838112
Trusted Identity and Session Management Using Secure Cookies
The concept of federated identity management is increasingly coming to use in order to bring Service Providers closer to customers. Users are being provided an enriched experience while carrying out business on the Web at reduced overhead and improved customer service. The idea of maintaining a single profile and gaining access to multiple services has been accepted well by the customers. However, the benefits of breaking through just one set of credentials to gain access to multiple services has made the concept of Federated Identity Management of high interest to malicious users. In this paper, we analyze the structure of a generic Federated Identity Management System and explore the .NET Passport framework in depth. We explore the current security mechanisms adopted by the .NET Passport and identify potential security weaknesses. We then propose our new approaches to enhance the security services in .NET Passport by using Secure Cookies. Our approaches are transparent to and compatible with the current .NET Passport server. Finally, we prove the feasibility by implementing our ideas in a real system.
18041119
Component integrity check and recovery against malicious codes
With the rise in usage of software components in distributed computing applications, the importance of safeguarding these components has assumed great significance. In trying to ensure the survivability of these components, we enable a mission-critical application to detect malicious codes in a component downloaded from a remote location and recover the original functionality of the compromised component. In our work, we use digital signatures to ensure the integrity of software components in a large distributed system. By detecting unauthorized add-ons to the original components we can ensure that only legitimate software components are allowed to execute in a protected software environment. We also explore techniques to recover the original functionality of the component under attack by removing the affected portion from the component. In this paper we introduce the system architecture and the support mechanisms for our proposed approaches
14631475
RBAC on the Web by Secure Cookies
Current approaches to access control on Web servers do not scale to enterprise-wide systems, since they are mostly based on individual users. Therefore, we were motivated by the need to manage and enforce the strong access control technology of RBAC in large-scale Web environments. Cookies can be used to support RBAC on the Web, holding users’ role information. However, it is insecure to store and transmit sensitive information in cookies. Cookies are stored and transmitted in clear text, which is readable and easily forged. In this paper, we describe an implementation of Role-Based Access Control with role hierarchies on the Web by secure cookies. Since a user’s role information is contained in a set of secure cookies and transmitted to the corresponding Web servers, these servers can trust the role information in the cookies after cookie-verification procedures and use it for role-based access control. In our implementation, we used CGI scripts and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) to provide security services to secure cookies. The approach is transparent to users and applicable to existing Web servers and browsers.
16135620
Constructing fair-exchange protocols for E-commerce via distributed computation of RSA signatures
Applications such as e-commerce payment protocols, electronic contract signing, and certified e-mail delivery require that fair exchange be assured. A fair-exchange protocol allows two parties to exchange items in a fair way so that either each party gets the other's item, or neither party does. We describe a novel method of constructing very efficient fair-exchange protocols by distributing the computation of RSA signatures. Specifically, we employ multisignatures based on the RSA-signature scheme. To date, the vast majority of fair-exchange protocols require the use of zero-knowledge proofs, which is the most computationally intensive part of the exchange protocol. Using the intrinsic features of our multisignature model, we construct protocols that require no zero-knowledge proofs in the exchange protocol. Use of zero-knowledge proofs is needed only in the protocol setup phase--this is a one-time cost. Furthermore, our scheme uses multisignatures that are compatible with the underlying standard (single-signer) signature scheme, which makes it possible to readily integrate the fair-exchange feature with existing e-commerce systems.
14990532
Weaving Aspects into Real-Time Operating System Design Using Object-Oriented Model Transformation
Despite of the proliferation of object-oriented and component technology, their application to real-time operating systems (RTOS) has been limited since most design concerns in RTOSes crosscut software components and these are critical to deliver required performance and functionality. Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP) is a very effective means to solve the crosscutting problem. However, we have observed the following limitations of the current AOP framework: (1) the current text-based AOP languages cannot clearly show how aspects are weaved together, (2) their granularity is too coarse to capture all aspects in an RTOS, (3) it is difficult to control the weaving process, since aspect weavers are usually hard-coded. In this paper, we propose a new AOP framework that provides (1) a graphical aspect programming environment that visualizes aspects, crosscutting classes, and method structures, (2) a new aspect model that supports a sub-method level granularity where an aspect is defined as a set of classes, and (3) an aspect weaving process specified by an object-oriented meta-model transformation. Since our aspect-oriented programming framework improves the expressiveness of the crosscutting concerns of RTOSes and automates aspect weaver generation, it can enhance RTOS customization.
5714667
Extending software communications architecture for QoS support in SDR signal processing
The software communications architecture (SCA) is middleware for providing component interfaces and dynamic reconfigurability to software define radio (SDR) modems and it is widely adopted by the SDR forum. Although its main application domains include real-time signal processing, SCA lacks QoS support. We thus propose a QoS-enabled extension of SCA called Q-SCA. Our extended architecture incorporates a new waveform model, extended domain profiles that describe QoS requirements, and a modified application instantiation process that supports both admission control and resource allocation. We show the viability of Q-SCA through full implementation and experiments.
17981428
SECK: survivable and efficient clustered keying for wireless sensor networks
A wireless sensor network (WSN) typically consists of a large number of small sensor nodes and one or more high-end control and data aggregation nodes. Sensor nodes have limited computation and communication capabilities, and communicate via wireless links. Consequently, WSNs are highly vulnerable to attacks. This vulnerability is exacerbated when WSNs have to operate unattended in a hostile environment, such as battlefields. In this paper, we propose a novel self-organizing key management scheme for large-scale WSNs, called Sunivable and efficient clustered keying (SECK). Our scheme was designed specifically to address the key management issues within the low-tier of a hierarchical network architecture. Previous approaches for WSN key management adequately addressed operational issues, but to a large extent, ignored robustness and recoverability issues. Using simulation and analysis, we show that SECK is highly robust against key and node captures, and has noteworthy advantages over other key management schemes.
14438478
A Certificate-Based Signature Scheme
In this paper, we propose the security notion of certificate-based signature that uses the same parameters and certificate revocation strategy as the encryption scheme presented at Eurocrypt 2003 by Gentry. Certificate-based signature preserves advantages of certificate-based encryption, such as implicit certification and no private key escrow. We present concrete certificate-based signature schemes derived from pairings on elliptic curves and prove their security in the random oracle model assuming that the underlying group is GDH. Additionally, we propose a concrete delegation-by-certificate proxy signature scheme which is derived from a certificate-based signature scheme after simple modifications. Our proxy scheme is provably secure in the random oracle model under the security notion defined by Boldyreva, Palacio and Warinschi.