Can software defined radio be used to compromise ADS-B aircraft transponder signals?

Air traffic control is moving from independent primary surveillance radar to the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system. This holds the potential of reducing the total cost of deployment and improving the detection accuracy of aircraft. However, as currently being deployed these s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of transportation security 2018-06, Vol.11 (1-2), p.41-52
Main Authors: Revels, Mark A., Ciampa, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air and Outer Space
Air traffic control
Airborne surveillance radar
Aircraft
Aircraft detection
Attack aircraft
Automatic control
Broadcasting
Business and Management
Compromises
Cybersecurity
Economic Policy
Innovation/Technology Management
Internet
Law of the Sea
Logistics
Negotiation
R & D/Technology Policy
Radar
Radio
Software
Software radio
Surveillance
Surveillance radar
Traffic surveillance
Transceivers
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Summary:Air traffic control is moving from independent primary surveillance radar to the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system. This holds the potential of reducing the total cost of deployment and improving the detection accuracy of aircraft. However, as currently being deployed these systems lack strong security mechanisms and are susceptible to a variety of radio frequency attacks. These attacks have been proffered by attackers at hacker conventions and by academic researchers. And many online sites even provide hacking “how-to” instructions on ADS-B. Is it possible for an attacker to manipulate ADS-B to interfere with an aircraft in flight using readily available tools? Using a basic $200 software defined radio (SDR) transceiver we simulated an ADS-B replay attack. Despite the advancement in SDR we find that the quality of SDR transceivers are still insufficient to perform a replay attack.
ISSN:1938-7741
1938-775X
DOI:10.1007/s12198-018-0188-y