Analysis of Decreased Rank Attack on RPL-Based IoT Networks

Routing within the Internet of Things(IoT) networks relies on utilizing the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL). The RPL protocol is equipped on the sensor nodes, which can be exposed to different insider or outsider attacks because of the non-resistant nature of these nodes and their limited resources. The security issues of the RPL protocol may restrict its ability to be adopted globally. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of RPL-associated security attacks and their consequences on the underlying network is required. This paper examines how the RPL network is affected by decreased rank attack in both moving and stationary network settings. The results highlight the destructive impact of this attack on the routing structure, leading to decreased PDR and throughput, increased average delay, and control overhead. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the provision of security mechanisms for IoT networks by highlighting the high impact of the attack in high-loss mobile networks.