Analyzing the Impact of RPL Routing Attacks on the Smart City Ecosystems

The Internet of Things is a network of real-world objects like machines, devices, and other items that can connect and share information online. The Internet of Things (IoT) application to urban environments is best demonstrated through smart cities. A smart city improves the quality of life for citizens and city efficiency by integrating infrastructure, processes, and services with IoT technologies. In order to achieve this goal of creating a more connected and responsive urban environment, advanced technologies like smart grids, healthcare, and transportation must all be integrated. These interconnected systems depend on effective communication, and sensor data is routed using the RPL protocol, which, like any protocol, is vulnerable to attacks like Sinkhole, Blackhole, DIS Flooding, and Version Number.This paper delves into the critical role of the RPL protocol in smart city operations and assesses the potential impact of attacks on its performance. By targeting the foundational routing protocol of the smart city’s communication framework, malicious actors can disrupt data flow, compromise information integrity, and endanger the coordinated function of interconnected systems. Through an extensive analysis of attack scenarios, this study highlights how RPL Routing attacks could trigger cascading effects across various smart city domains. It explores the potential disruptions in energy distribution, emergency healthcare services, traffic congestion, and waste management operations stemming from a compromised routing infrastructure.