Master Security Module for Vehicle Data Bus Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle electrical systems cannot effectively recognize manipulations to control apparatuses, particularly software modifications, which poses a security risk.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a master security module and client security modules that communicate over a data bus, using a secret symmetrical key for encryption and authentication, with secure key logistics and monitoring for software signature integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a master security module and client security modules with cryptographic authentication are implemented, then security against manipulations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The security system is divided into a master security module in the gateway control apparatus and client security modules in individual control apparatuses. This segmentation allows distributed security verification throughout the vehicle electrical system, enabling each control apparatus to independently verify messages from the master module without requiring centralized verification logic, thus improving security while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Secret symmetrical communication keys are exchanged and stored in advance between the master security module and client security modules before operational use. This preliminary key distribution establishes secure authentication credentials beforehand, allowing rapid cryptographic verification during operation without real-time key negotiation, thereby enhancing security response time while reducing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If secret symmetrical keys are exchanged between master and client security modules, then communication security is improved, but key logistics complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses symmetrical cryptography where the same secret key serves both encryption and authentication purposes between master and client security modules. This homogeneity simplifies key management compared to asymmetric systems, as only one key type needs to be distributed and managed, reducing key logistics complexity while maintaining strong communication security through shared secret authentication.
3Measurement precision
If signature checks are performed on control apparatus messages, then detection of software manipulations is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical or procedural verification methods with cryptographic signature checks. By using digital signatures based on exchanged secret keys, the system achieves rapid automated verification of control apparatus message authenticity, detecting software manipulations through cryptographic validation rather than time-consuming manual or mechanical inspection processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical system of a motor vehicle with control apparatuses, which communicate with one another by means of a data bus. To recognize manipulations to the electrical system of a motor vehicle, in particular on the software of the control apparatuses of the electrical system, and to derive suitable measures, it is proposed that a master security module is provided in a first control apparatus and a client security module is provided in each case in a plurality of the further second control apparatuses, and the master security module of the first control apparatus, preferably a central gateway control apparatus, signs a message and sends the signed message to at least one of the second control apparatuses by means of the data bus. The client security module of the second control apparatus checks the signed message received from the master security module as to whether it comes from an authorized master security module.