Simulation Model Control Component for Cyber Attack Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Evaluating the effects of cyber-attacks on cyber-physical systems (CPS) is challenging due to the risk of malware contamination and physical damage to components during direct testing.
Innovation Solution
A simulation model of the CPS is built with a control component that intercepts communications between component sets, allowing for the simulation of cyber-attacks without affecting the actual system, thereby reducing the risk of contamination and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct testing and attacking of CPS is performed to assess cyber-attack impact, then evaluation accuracy is improved, but risk of malware contamination and physical damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simulation model that replicates the structure, behavior, and interactions of the cyber-physical system. This virtual copy allows researchers to conduct cyber-attack evaluations on the replica rather than the actual system, thereby maintaining evaluation accuracy while eliminating risks of malware contamination and physical damage to expensive physical components
Solution Approach 2:
The simulation model serves as an intermediary between the evaluator and the actual CPS. By routing cyber-attack assessments through this intermediate virtual environment, the system enables accurate evaluation of attack impacts without direct exposure of the physical system to harmful malware or attack vectors
2Reliability
If CPS is exposed to cyber-attacks during testing, then security vulnerabilities are identified, but physical components may become damaged requiring repair or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing physical components with their virtual counterparts in the simulation model, the patent enables security vulnerability identification through cyber-attack exposure while completely avoiding physical damage. The virtual components can be reset and reused indefinitely without wear, damage, or replacement costs
3Measurement precision
If malware is introduced in CPS during testing, then cyber-attack effects are evaluated, but malware may remain after testing causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation model provides an isolated virtual environment where malware can be introduced and evaluated without risk of persistence in the actual CPS. The virtual simulation can be completely reset between tests, ensuring no malware contamination carries over to production systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes protective measures in advance by creating a virtual buffer zone (simulation model) between the evaluation process and the actual system. This preliminary protective layer ensures that any harmful effects contained in the simulation cannot affect the real CPS
Data Source
AI summary
Described are systems and methods for evaluating cyber effects in a cyber physical system (CPS). In some embodiments, a simulation model of the CPS is built and includes a plurality of component sets. The plurality of component sets includes at least one component in the simulation model. A control component is inserted into the simulation model. One or more connections between the plurality of component sets is routed through the control component. A cyber-attack on a component set selected from the plurality of component sets can be simulated by configuring the control component to control an output transmitted via a routed connection between the plurality of component sets. The model components may be iteratively replaced by CPS components, including software or physical components, to improve the cyber-attack and evaluation fidelity.