A Group-Based Fast Handover Authentication Scheme for 5G Networks
Qianqian Wang · 2025
In ultra-dense 5G networks, frequent handovers caused by dense base station deployment and user mobility result in network delays, signaling overload, and heightened security risks. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Group-based Fast Handover Key (GHK) mechanism. By integrating Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN), GHK offloads authentication tasks to edge servers, reducing core network dependency. The mechanism employs group-aggregated keys to minimize signaling exchanges and dynamic key updates (ensuring forward secrecy) to enhance security. Furthermore, GHK integrates malicious user detection via Contributory Broadcast Encryption (CBE) and Aggregate MAC with Detection (AMAD), effectively mitigating impersonation, replay, and man-in-the-middle attacks. Simulations using Scyther and NS-3 demonstrate that GHK significantly reduces authentication latency and signaling overhead during high-frequency handovers while maintaining robust security against spoofing threats.