Secure Routing in SDN-Enabled 5G Networks: A Trust-Based Model

The convergence of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Fifth Generation (5G) mobile networks presents a transformative opportunity to enhance network programmability, agility, and centralized control. However, this integration introduces new security vulnerabilities, especially in routing, where traditional mechanisms often fail to address insider threats and dynamic attack vectors. This study proposes a novel trust-based routing model designed to secure data transmission paths within SDN-enabled 5G environments by evaluating and leveraging node trustworthiness. The model computes trust values using both direct and indirect behavioral indicators such as packet delivery ratio, latency, and packet drop rate which are monitored and aggregated by the SDN controller. These trust scores inform routing decisions, enabling the controller to dynamically avoid compromised nodes and mitigate risks associated with blackhole, greyhole, and selective forwarding attacks. The architecture also includes a trust aging mechanism to ensure adaptability to real-time network conditions. Extensive simulations conducted in an emulated SDN-5G environment demonstrate that the proposed model significantly improves routing reliability, enhances packet delivery ratio, and reduces end-to-end delay, with minimal computational overhead. When compared with conventional and reputation-based routing protocols, the trust-based approach outperforms in terms of security resilience and network performance. This research contributes to a scalable and adaptive framework for trust-aware routing in future 5G infrastructures, laying a foundation for further integration with AI-based trust prediction models and decentralized security frameworks.