Analyzing the security of ZigBee communication in smart environments via SDR

Tamara Kokenovna Zhukabaeva; Aigul Duysenbinovna Adamova; Zhandos Boranbay; Elhadj Benkhelifa; Yerik Mardenov

doi:10.32523/bulmathenu.2025/3.1

Authors

Tamara Kokenovna Zhukabaeva Astana IT UniversityAstana IT University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6345-5211
Aigul Duysenbinovna Adamova Astana IT University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7773-9522
Zhandos Boranbay Astana IT University https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4096-3876
Elhadj Benkhelifa Staffordshire University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1955-2529
Yerik Mardenov Astana International University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9284-9797

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32523/bulmathenu.2025/3.1

Keywords:

ZigBee, SDR, HackRF, Gnu Radio, jamming, radio interference, information security, IoT

Abstract

The development of smart cities is accompanied by the widespread adoption of wireless
networks based on the ZigBee protocol, due to its energy efficiency and compatibility with Internet
of Things architectures. However, the active use of this protocol in an open radio environment
increases the risk of unauthorized radio-frequency interference. The study aims to experimentally
assess the vulnerability of ZigBee networks to targeted jamming using software-defined radio. The
paper presents the stages of preparing a test environment with real devices, identifying the active
data transmission channel, and generating tone interference using the SDR platform HackRF One
and the GNU Radio environment. The conducted experiment showed that, when affecting a specific
frequency, up to 95% of packets may be lost, rendering the network inoperable. The obtained
results confirm the critical vulnerability of the ZigBee protocol at the physical layer and highlight
the need to develop additional protection mechanisms for wireless IoT networks, especially within
urban infrastructure. The proposed methodology can be used to test the resilience of devices in
practical scenarios and to support the development of monitoring systems capable of detecting and
withstanding external attacks.

Author Biographies

Tamara Kokenovna Zhukabaeva, Astana IT UniversityAstana IT University

PhD, professor, Astana IT University, Mangilik El ave. 55/11, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan.

Aigul Duysenbinovna Adamova, Astana IT University

PhD, associate Professor, Astana IT University, Mangilik El ave. 55/11, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan.

Zhandos Boranbay, Astana IT University

"Киберқауіпсіздік" мектебінің аға оқытушысы, Astana IT University, Мәнгілік Ел даңғылы 55/11, Астана қ., 010000, Қазақстан.

Elhadj Benkhelifa, Staffordshire University

PhD, professor, Cybersecurity Research Centre, Staffordshire University, Leek Road site ST4 2DF, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom.

Yerik Mardenov, Astana International University

Astana International University, Kabanbay batyr ave. 8, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan.

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