Security Vulnerabilities and Attack Classification in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have emerged as a transformative technology with applications spanning military, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and smart infrastructure. However, their resource-constrained nature—limited energy, computation, and memory—makes them particularly vulnerable to security threats. This paper provides a systematic classification of attacks targeting WSNs, detailing their mechanisms, impacts, and relevance to network security requirements. We also discuss the inherent restrictions of WSNs and outline essential security countermeasures. This survey aims to serve as a reference for researchers and practitioners in designing robust, attack-resilient WSN architectures.