Towards MIL-STD-1553B Covert Channel Analysis

Abstract

Covert channel analysis is a critical, yet challenging, security engineering task. Despite numerous descriptions of covert channel attacks on ground-based systems and networks, such attacks have not been examined in the context of data bus protocols used in commercial space platforms hosting government payloads. Our contribution is to identify relevant concerns that have yet to be addressed in this domain, largely due to the lack of security requirements for hosted payload space applications. In this paper, we describe a policy-driven threat model and then develop hypothetical attack scenarios in the context of the MIL-STD-1553B protocol. Our initial analysis identifies several covert timing and storage channels.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2015
Accession Number
ADA613900

Entities

People

  • Thuy D. Nguyen

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • California
  • Communication Channels
  • Computers
  • Cross Domain
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cybersecurity
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Ground Based
  • Malware
  • Platforms
  • Security
  • Space Systems
  • Standards
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites