S2DN: Design of robust authentication protocol with session key establishment in multi-controller based software-defined VANETs

Advancements in technology and the adoption of innovative developments have significantly simplified our lives. One notable innovation in the networking domain is Software Defined Networking (SDN), which revolutionizes the network layer by enabling centralized network administration and re-programmability. SDN technology finds application in diverse fields such as Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs), Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), Internet of Things (IoT) communications, and cloud-fog computing. The integration of SDN technology into VANET systems has notably improved network performance but has also raised security concerns. To tackle this issue, this paper focuses on devising an authentication mechanism to facilitate secure communication across various VANET levels by establishing a shared session key. Moreover, the research proposes a method to mitigate the challenge of single points of failure, a typically difficult issue to address. To ensure the security of all confidential information during protocol execution, simulations are conducted using the Scyther tool. Additionally, an informal security analysis is performed, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed protocol. The proposed protocol also performs outstanding in terms of performance results