Vulnerabilities of Critical Space Assets
Space systems are vast—including space-based assets, ground control systems, data centers, and other elements. Each of these connected systems, subsystems, and components have their own set of vulnerabilities, creating an attractively large threat surface for nation-state and criminal hackers to attack in an attempt to disrupt operations or compromise data. And attacking these systems may be surprisingly easy, as there is limited risk and cost in doing so, making many styles of attacks more accessible.
Traditional defense and intelligence space assets typically come with a long development lifecycle, meaning that their cybersecurity protocols were likely established years before they went into operation. This puts them behind the curve in protecting against modern-day cyber attacks. And while commercial systems can be developed more quickly, cybersecurity is not always a priority, creating potential points of vulnerability.
Space systems have changed dramatically over the years. Earlier spacecraft, like those used in the Apollo missions, used standalone systems to collect and transmit data. Conversely, today’s space systems are increasingly interconnected to each other and to points on the ground. Each node in the network adds to the attack surface, making it possible for threats to spread from one node in the system to the next.
Space systems’ cybersecurity has not maintained pace with cyber technologies integrated into their earth-based counterparts, which benefit from sophisticated protection against malicious actors and exploitation. As a result, some satellites in space today may be less secure than a 1990s-era personal computer.
