Publications Conference paper · Delay-tolerant networks · 2026

Security-Aware Route Selection in DTNs: Towards Optimal Key Provisioning

Ramiro Detke, Pablo G. Madoery, Renato Cherini, Juan A. Fraire, and Jorge M. Finochietto

IEEE International Conference on Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments (WiSEE), Space-Terrestrial Internetworking Workshop (STINT), 2026

Abstract

Bundle Protocol Security (BPSec) provides integrity and confidentiality for Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTNs) but deliberately leaves key management to the operator. In space networks, where intermittent contacts preclude interactive key exchange, the adopted security scheme—End-to-End, Hop-by-Hop, Edge-by-Edge, or Edge-to-Edge—determines which symmetric keys must be pre-provisioned for each route to remain usable. This paper introduces a security-aware route selection framework that couples routing feasibility with cryptographic provisioning: routes computed via Contact Graph Routing are translated into scheme-induced key scopes, and a mixed-integer linear program minimizes the active key scopes required to reach a target connectivity ratio. Results on a four-plane orbital scenario quantify the trade-off between key provisioning, cryptographic processing, and data-at-rest exposure: End-to-End minimizes exposure and processing at maximal key cost, Hop-by-Hop exhibits the opposite profile, while the edge-based schemes provide practical intermediate operating points, turning BPSec policy selection into a quantitative decision.

Cite

BibTeX

@inproceedings{detke2026securityaware,
  author    = {Detke, Ramiro and Madoery, Pablo G. and Cherini, Renato and Fraire, Juan A. and Finochietto, Jorge M.},
  title     = {Security-Aware Route Selection in {DTNs}: Towards Optimal Key Provisioning},
  booktitle = {IEEE International Conference on Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments (WiSEE), Space-Terrestrial Internetworking Workshop (STINT)},
  year      = {2026}
}

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