Cyber Security Analysis and Strategy Development for Software-Defined Radars
Abstract
This research investigates a rudimentary software-defined radar. The research presents a cyber attack and defense strategies on the test-bed architecture. The cyber attack and defense vectors are contextualized within the current state of software-defined radar systems by reviewing and summarizing various applications of software-defined radars currently in use. The system under test is open-source but representative of many software-defined radars found in current use. The operation of the system is described from the application level to the hardware operation. The system under test is found to be vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. This attack vector is capable of modifying packet data to change configuration settings onboard the system front end and modifying the waveform data between the two nodes. Manipulation of the waveform data produces a predictable effect in the distance estimates produced by the radar. The results of the configuration command and waveform data manipulation are quantified and presented. The research presents strategies for securing the system under test. The research also presents tools for securing the system.