A Lightweight and Attack-Proof Bidirectional Blockchain Paradigm for Internet of Things

【Author】 Xu, Chenhao; Qu, Youyang; Luan, Tom H.; Eklund, Peter W.; Xiang, Yong; Gao, Longxiang

【Source】IEEE INTERNET OF THINGS JOURNAL

【Abstract】Diverse technologies, such as machine learning and big data, have been driving the prosperity of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the ubiquitous proliferation of IoT devices. Consequently, it is natural that IoT becomes the driving force to meet the increasing demand for frictionless transactions. To secure transactions in IoT, blockchain is widely deployed since it can remove the necessity of a trusted central authority. However, the mainstream blockchain-based IoT payment platforms, dominated by Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithms, face several major security and scalability challenges that result in system failures and financial loss. Among the three leading attacks in this scenario, double-spend attacks and long-range attacks threaten the tokens of blockchain users, while eclipse attacks target Denial of Service. To defeat these attacks, a novel bidirectional-linked blockchain (BLB) using chameleon hash functions is proposed, where bidirectional pointers are constructed between blocks. Furthermore, a new committee members auction (CMA) consensus algorithm is designed to improve the security and attack resistance of BLB while guaranteeing high scalability. In CMA, distributed blockchain nodes elect committee members through a verifiable random function. The smart contract uses Shamir's secret-sharing scheme to distribute the trapdoor keys to committee members. To better investigate BLB's resistance against double-spend attacks, an improved Nakamoto's attack analysis is presented. In addition, a modified entropy metric is devised to measure eclipse attack resistance across different consensus algorithms. Extensive evaluation results show the superior resistance against attacks and demonstrate high scalability of BLB compared with current leading paradigms based on PoS and PoW.

【Keywords】Blockchains; Scalability; Consensus algorithm; Cryptography; Resistance; Internet of Things; Hash functions; Bidirectional blockchain; double-spend attack; eclipse attack; Internet of Things (IoT); long-range attack; scalability

【标题】一种轻量级且防攻击的物联网双向区块链范式

【摘要】机器学习和大数据等多种技术一直在推动物联网 (IoT) 的繁荣和物联网设备的普及。因此，物联网自然成为满足日益增长的无摩擦交易需求的驱动力。为了保护物联网中的交易，区块链被广泛部署，因为它可以消除可信中央机构的必要性。然而，以工作量证明 (PoW) 和权益证明 (PoS) 共识算法为主的主流基于区块链的物联网支付平台面临着几个主要的安全性和可扩展性挑战，这些挑战会导致系统故障和财务损失。在该场景中的三种主要攻击中，双花攻击和远程攻击威胁区块链用户的代币，而日蚀攻击则针对拒绝服务。为了击败这些攻击，提出了一种使用变色龙哈希函数的新型双向链接区块链（BLB），其中在块之间构建双向指针。此外，新的委员会成员拍卖（CMA）共识算法旨在提高 BLB 的安全性和抗攻击性，同时保证高可扩展性。在 CMA 中，分布式区块链节点通过可验证的随机函数选举委员会成员。智能合约使用 Shamir 的秘密共享方案将陷门密钥分发给委员会成员。为了更好地研究 BLB 对双花攻击的抵抗力，提出了一种改进的 Nakamoto 攻击分析。此外，设计了一个修改后的熵度量来衡量跨不同共识算法的日蚀攻击抵抗力。广泛的评估结果表明，与当前基于 PoS 和 PoW 的领先范式相比，BLB 具有出色的抗攻击性和高可扩展性。

【关键词】区块链；可扩展性；共识算法；密码学；反抗;物联网;哈希函数；双向区块链；双花攻击；日蚀攻击；物联网（IoT）；远程攻击；可扩展性

【发表时间】2022

【收录时间】2022-08-23

【文献类型】Article

【论文大主题】共识机制

【论文小主题】其他

【影响因子】10.238

【翻译者】石东瑛