SoK: Securing the Final Frontier for Cybersecurity in Space-Based Infrastructure

2025-07-22

AI Summary

Terrestrial and space-based assets face escalating cyber threats, yet existing research lacks a systematic characterization of cross-domain attack surfaces—spanning ground stations, space links, individual satellites, and satellite constellations—as well as empirical validation of mitigation effectiveness. Method: This study introduces the first unified, multi-layered attack surface model for space infrastructure, integrating systematic literature review, attack path modeling, and empirical security mechanism evaluation. It proposes a quantifiable space cybersecurity risk scoring framework grounded in rigorous threat analysis and real-world validation. Contribution/Results: The framework identifies critical vulnerabilities and technical bottlenecks across the space system stack, empirically demonstrates limitations of prevailing defense mechanisms (e.g., encryption, authentication, and anomaly detection), and provides a theoretically sound, methodologically robust foundation for designing, evaluating, and evolving resilient space cybersecurity architectures.

Technology Category

• Application Domains: Security
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Computer Vision: Adversarial Attacks & Robustness

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Attacks and countermeasures in recommendation systems

Abstract

With the advent of modern technology, critical infrastructure, communications, and national security depend increasingly on space-based assets. These assets, along with associated assets like data relay systems and ground stations, are, therefore, in serious danger of cyberattacks. Strong security defenses are essential to ensure data integrity, maintain secure operations, and protect assets in space and on the ground against various threats. Previous research has found discrete vulnerabilities in space systems and suggested specific solutions to address them. Such research has yielded valuable insights, but lacks a thorough examination of space cyberattack vectors and a rigorous assessment of the efficacy of mitigation techniques. This study tackles this issue by taking a comprehensive approach to analyze the range of possible space cyber-attack vectors, which include ground, space, satellite, and satellite constellations. In order to address the particular threats, the study also assesses the efficacy of mitigation measures that are linked with space infrastructures and proposes a Risk Scoring Framework. Based on the analysis, this paper identifies potential research challenges for developing and testing cutting-edge technology solutions, encouraging robust cybersecurity measures needed in space.

Problem

• Analyzing space cyberattack vectors across ground and satellite systems
• Assessing mitigation techniques for space infrastructure cybersecurity
• Proposing a Risk Scoring Framework for space asset protection

Innovation

• Comprehensive analysis of space cyberattack vectors
• Risk Scoring Framework for space infrastructure
• Evaluation of mitigation measures efficacy