Delegation-Based Mutual Authentication Scheme for Multi-operator Wireless Mesh Network

Abstract

In order to establish secure access for multi-operator wireless mesh network (WMN), this paper proposes a delegation-based authentication scheme under broker-based hierarchical security architecture and trust model. Mutual authentication is achieved directly between mesh client and access mesh router though ticket which is equipped with identity-based proxy signature. Fast authentication for different roaming scenarios is supported by using HMAC operations on both mesh client side and mesh router side. As a byproduct, key agreement among participants is also implemented to protect the subsequent communications. Security analysis demonstrates that our proposed scheme is resilient to various kinds of attacks.