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A Lightweight Authentication and Key Agreement Protocol with Integrity Validation for Wireless Sensor Networks in Smart Grid
Lei Zhang, Ting Wu, Jianwei Liu, Zhenyu Guan and Xiaodong Yin

In the smart grid (SG) environment, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) emerge as the optimal solution for cost-effective environmental data gathering, leveraging wireless connectivity and widespread deployment. However, with the Internet of Energy’s advancement, WSNs witness a surge in smart device proliferation, accompanied by escalating security risks. Authentication mechanisms serve as primary defenses, yet the dynamic WSN environment poses challenges like malware implantation and node impersonation attack. Traditional authentication schemes fall short. To counter these challenges, a lightweight authentication and key agreement (AKA) protocol with integrity validation is proposed based on cryptographic primitives. Formal verification using BAN logic and ProVerif tool, alongside informal analysis, demonstrates the protocol’s robust security and functional properties. Compared to recent alternatives, this protocol offers superior security and reduced communication/computation overheads, rendering it apt for SG practicality.

Keywords: Smart grid, Authentication, Key agreement, Lightweight, Wireless sensor networks