June 17, 2024 at 08:07AM
A recent study by researchers at California Polytechnic State University funded by the US National Science Foundation examines potential cyberattacks in outer space. They propose a taxonomy called ICARUS to generate millions of novel cyberattack scenarios involving space infrastructure. The report highlights increasing vulnerability due to space congestion, technological complexity, and lack of cybersecurity measures.
The meeting notes highlight a new US National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded study on Outer Space Cyberattacks by researchers at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). The study provides a taxonomy for space cybersecurity that allows researchers to generate millions of novel cyber-enabled attack scenarios involving space infrastructure, satellites, and communications links. The report emphasizes the need to anticipate and plan for potential cyberattacks in outer space due to the increasing congestion of outer space, technological complexity, and the lack of attention to cybersecurity in space technologies. Additionally, the report identifies factors such as unclear legal regimes and the potential high visibility and impact of cyberattacks on space assets as potential drivers for adversary interest in future cyberattacks. The authors stress the importance of raising awareness about the space cybersecurity problem across different audiences, including space cybersecurity professionals, researchers from various disciplines, and the broader public.