Network Attacks Against Marine Radar Systems: A Taxonomy, Simulation Environment, and Dataset

Conference on Local Computer Networks, pp. 114–122

Abstract

Shipboard marine radar systems are essential for safe navigation, helping seafarers perceive their surroundings as they provide bearing and range estimations, object detection, and tracking. Since onboard systems have become increasingly digitized, interconnecting distributed electronics, radars have been integrated into modern bridge systems. But digitization increases the risk of cyberattacks, especially as vessels cannot be considered air-gapped. Consequently, in-depth security is crucial. However, particularly radar systems are not sufficiently protected against harmful network-level adversaries. Therefore, we ask: Can seafarers believe their eyes? In this paper, we identify possible attacks on radar communication and discuss how these threaten safe vessel operation in an attack taxonomy. Furthermore, we develop a holistic simulation environment with radar, complementary nautical sensors, and prototypically implemented cyberattacks from our taxonomy. Finally, leveraging this environment, we create a comprehensive dataset (RadarPWN) with radar network attacks that provides a foundation for future security research to secure marine radar communication.

Authors 9

1. Konrad Wolsing Aachen Communication and Distributed Systems

   Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer FKIE,Cyber Analysis & Defense,Germany

   Communication and Distributed Systems, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

2. Antoine Saillard Aachen Communication and Distributed Systems

   Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer FKIE,Cyber Analysis & Defense,Germany

   Communication and Distributed Systems, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

3. Jan Bauer

   Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer FKIE,Cyber Analysis & Defense,Germany

4. Eric Wagner Aachen Communication and Distributed Systems

   Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer FKIE,Cyber Analysis & Defense,Germany

   Communication and Distributed Systems, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

5. Christian van Sloun Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Communication and Distributed Systems,Germany

6. Ina Berenice Fink Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Communication and Distributed Systems,Germany

7. Mari Schmidt

   Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer FKIE,Cyber Analysis & Defense,Germany

8. Klaus Wehrle Aachen Communication and Distributed Systems

   Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Communication and Distributed Systems,Germany

   Communication and Distributed Systems, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

   Cyber Analysis & Defense, Fraunhofer FKIE, Germany

9. Martin Henze Aachen Security and Privacy in Industrial Cooperation

   Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Security and Privacy in Industrial Cooperation,Germany

   Cyber Analysis & Defense, Fraunhofer FKIE, Germany

   Security and Privacy in Industrial Cooperation, RWTH Aachen University, Germany