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Time sensitive networking security: issues of precision time protocol and its implementation

delete2023-04-11
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OA
AI
D
Davide Berardi *
N
Nils Ole Tippenhauer
A
Andrea Melis
M
Marco Prandini
F
Franco Callegati
DOI:10.1186/s42400-023-00140-5delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) will be an integral component of industrial networking. Time synchronization in TSN is provided by the IEEE-1588, Precision Time Protocol (PTP) protocol. The standard, dating back to 2008, marginally addresses security aspects, notably not encompassing the frames designed for management purposes (Type Length Values or TLVs). In this work we show that the TLVs can be abused by an attacker to reconfigure, manipulate, or shut down time synchronization. The effects of such an attack can be serious, ranging from interruption of operations to actual unintended behavior of industrial devices, possibly resulting in physical damages or even harm to operators. The paper analyzes the root causes of this vulnerability, and provides concrete examples of attacks leveraging it to de-synchronize the clocks, showing that they can succeed with limited resources, realistically available to a malicious actor.
Keywords:
Time synchronization
Time sensitive networking
Precision time protocol
Cybersecurity attacks

Journal

C
Cybersecurity
IF:
3.7
Papers:
579
Citations:
1.0K

Organization

U
University of Bologna
Scholars:
4.5W
Papers: 3.8W
Citations: 4.1W