Security Issues in the Optimized Link State Routing Protocol Version 2 (OLSRV2)

TL;DR

This paper analyzes vulnerabilities in the OLSRv2 routing protocol used in MANETs, providing insights into potential attacks and countermeasures to enhance security for real-world deployments.

Contribution

It offers a detailed vulnerability analysis of OLSRv2, serving as a guide for developing security measures against malicious exploits.

Findings

Identifies protocol elements susceptible to attacks

Provides a 'cookbook' for attacking OLSRv2 networks

Suggests directions for developing protective countermeasures

Abstract

Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANETs) are leaving the confines of research laboratories, to find place in real-world deployments. Outside specialized domains (military, vehicular, etc.), city-wide communitynetworks are emerging, connecting regular Internet users with each other, and with the Internet, via MANETs. Growing to encompass more than a handful of "trusted participants", the question of preserving the MANET network connectivity, even when faced with careless or malicious participants, arises, and must be addressed. A first step towards protecting a MANET is to analyze the vulnerabilities of the routing protocol, managing the connectivity. By understanding how the algorithms of the routing protocol operate, and how these can be exploited by those with ill intent, countermeasures can be developed, readying MANETs for wider deployment and use. This paper takes an abstract look at the algorithms that constitute the Optimized Link State Routing Protocol version 2 (OLSRv2), and identifies for each protocol element the possible vulnerabilities and attacks -- in a certain way, provides a "cookbook" for how to best attack an operational OLSRv2 network, or for how to proceed with developing protective countermeasures against these attacks.