DOSing Distributed Ledger Technology: IOTA

Mark A. Brady; Ikram Ullah; Paul J.M. Havinga

doi:10.1109/CSP51677.2021.9357600

DOSing Distributed Ledger Technology: IOTA

Mark A. Brady, Ikram Ullah, Paul J.M. Havinga

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

114 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

With advancements in connected technology, the number of ambitious applications involving Internet of Things (IoT) are drastically growing. This increases concerns related to security, scalability, and interoperability of IoT. As the network of connected devices grows, decentralized technologies become inevitable. Within this trend towards decentralization, distributed ledger technology (for instance IOTA) will be a significant driving force. IOTA is an innovative distributed ledger technology targeted towards low power devices, where energy efficiency is a high priority. Public research regarding security threats against IOTA especially denial-of-service (DoS) is essentially non-existent. In this paper we focus on exploring a DoS attack against IOTA. The proposed attack methodology takes advantage of the lack of fees along with the ability to transfer minuscule amounts. By sending many conflicting transactions as it results in a high number of re-attachments. The high number of re-attachments threatens IOTA's suitability for the IoT sphere. The implications of such attack, as well as the future of this issue in terms of the planned removal of the centralized coordinator are discussed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2021 IEEE 5th International Conference on Cryptography, Security and Privacy (CSP)
Place of Publication	Piscataway, NJ
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	55-61
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-7281-8621-4, 978-1-7281-8620-7
ISBN (Print)	978-1-7281-8622-1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/CSP51677.2021.9357600
Publication status	Published - 25 Feb 2021
Event	5th International Conference on Cryptography, Security and Privacy, CSP 2021 - Virtual Conference Duration: 8 Jan 2021 → 10 Jan 2021 Conference number: 5 http://www.iccsp.org/2021.html

Conference

Conference	5th International Conference on Cryptography, Security and Privacy, CSP 2021
Abbreviated title	CSP 2021
City	Virtual Conference
Period	8/01/21 → 10/01/21
Internet address	http://www.iccsp.org/2021.html

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1109/CSP51677.2021.9357600

Brady2021dosingAccepted author version, 4.24 MB

Cite this

@inproceedings{fc0b8d10182a44e3823c057cfd3da5d7,

title = "DOSing Distributed Ledger Technology: IOTA",

abstract = "With advancements in connected technology, the number of ambitious applications involving Internet of Things (IoT) are drastically growing. This increases concerns related to security, scalability, and interoperability of IoT. As the network of connected devices grows, decentralized technologies become inevitable. Within this trend towards decentralization, distributed ledger technology (for instance IOTA) will be a significant driving force. IOTA is an innovative distributed ledger technology targeted towards low power devices, where energy efficiency is a high priority. Public research regarding security threats against IOTA especially denial-of-service (DoS) is essentially non-existent. In this paper we focus on exploring a DoS attack against IOTA. The proposed attack methodology takes advantage of the lack of fees along with the ability to transfer minuscule amounts. By sending many conflicting transactions as it results in a high number of re-attachments. The high number of re-attachments threatens IOTA's suitability for the IoT sphere. The implications of such attack, as well as the future of this issue in terms of the planned removal of the centralized coordinator are discussed.",

author = "Brady, {Mark A.} and Ikram Ullah and Havinga, {Paul J.M.}",

note = "Funding Information: ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work has been partially supported by the EFRO, OP Oost program in the context of Countdown project. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 IEEE.; 5th International Conference on Cryptography, Security and Privacy, CSP 2021, CSP 2021 ; Conference date: 08-01-2021 Through 10-01-2021",

year = "2021",

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language = "English",

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pages = "55--61",

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T1 - DOSing Distributed Ledger Technology: IOTA

AU - Brady, Mark A.

AU - Ullah, Ikram

AU - Havinga, Paul J.M.

N1 - Conference code: 5

PY - 2021/2/25

Y1 - 2021/2/25

N2 - With advancements in connected technology, the number of ambitious applications involving Internet of Things (IoT) are drastically growing. This increases concerns related to security, scalability, and interoperability of IoT. As the network of connected devices grows, decentralized technologies become inevitable. Within this trend towards decentralization, distributed ledger technology (for instance IOTA) will be a significant driving force. IOTA is an innovative distributed ledger technology targeted towards low power devices, where energy efficiency is a high priority. Public research regarding security threats against IOTA especially denial-of-service (DoS) is essentially non-existent. In this paper we focus on exploring a DoS attack against IOTA. The proposed attack methodology takes advantage of the lack of fees along with the ability to transfer minuscule amounts. By sending many conflicting transactions as it results in a high number of re-attachments. The high number of re-attachments threatens IOTA's suitability for the IoT sphere. The implications of such attack, as well as the future of this issue in terms of the planned removal of the centralized coordinator are discussed.

AB - With advancements in connected technology, the number of ambitious applications involving Internet of Things (IoT) are drastically growing. This increases concerns related to security, scalability, and interoperability of IoT. As the network of connected devices grows, decentralized technologies become inevitable. Within this trend towards decentralization, distributed ledger technology (for instance IOTA) will be a significant driving force. IOTA is an innovative distributed ledger technology targeted towards low power devices, where energy efficiency is a high priority. Public research regarding security threats against IOTA especially denial-of-service (DoS) is essentially non-existent. In this paper we focus on exploring a DoS attack against IOTA. The proposed attack methodology takes advantage of the lack of fees along with the ability to transfer minuscule amounts. By sending many conflicting transactions as it results in a high number of re-attachments. The high number of re-attachments threatens IOTA's suitability for the IoT sphere. The implications of such attack, as well as the future of this issue in terms of the planned removal of the centralized coordinator are discussed.

U2 - 10.1109/CSP51677.2021.9357600

DO - 10.1109/CSP51677.2021.9357600

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-1-7281-8622-1

SP - 55

EP - 61

BT - 2021 IEEE 5th International Conference on Cryptography, Security and Privacy (CSP)

PB - IEEE

CY - Piscataway, NJ

T2 - 5th International Conference on Cryptography, Security and Privacy, CSP 2021

Y2 - 8 January 2021 through 10 January 2021

ER -

DOSing Distributed Ledger Technology: IOTA

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

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