Security by Design Issues in Autonomous Vehicles
Martin Higgins, Devki Jha, David Blundell, David Wallom
TL;DR
This work surveys security vulnerabilities in autonomous vehicles across physical, cyber, and communications layers, arguing for a holistic security-by-design approach. It presents a layer-by-layer taxonomy of attacks and defenses, including physical sensors, code vulnerabilities, adversarial machine learning, and V2X communications, plus cross-layer threats. The key contributions are a comprehensive classification of AV security threats, discussions of concrete defenses (e.g., MISRA, CHERI, moving target defence, secure entry points), and guidance toward post-quantum readiness. The findings underscore the importance of integrating robust sensing, software hardening, secure communication, and operational practices to enable safe and resilient AV deployment.
Abstract
As autonomous vehicle (AV) technology advances towards maturity, it becomes imperative to examine the security vulnerabilities within these cyber-physical systems. While conventional cyber-security concerns are often at the forefront of discussions, it is essential to get deeper into the various layers of vulnerability that are often overlooked within mainstream frameworks. Our goal is to spotlight imminent challenges faced by AV operators and explore emerging technologies for comprehensive solutions. This research outlines the diverse security layers, spanning physical, cyber, coding, and communication aspects, in the context of AVs. Furthermore, we provide insights into potential solutions for each potential attack vector, ensuring that autonomous vehicles remain secure and resilient in an evolving threat landscape.