Metasurface Manipulation Attacks: Potential Security Threats of RIS-Aided 6G Communications


Alakoca H., Namdar M., Aldırmaz Çolak S., Basaran M., Başgümüş A., Durak Ata L., ...More

IEEE Communications Magazine, vol.61, no.1, pp.24-30, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 61 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1109/mcom.005.2200162
  • Journal Name: IEEE Communications Magazine
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Communication & Mass Media Index, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, INSPEC, Metadex, Public Affairs Index, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.24-30
  • Keywords: Metasurfaces, Security, Eavesdropping, Jamming, Microcontrollers, Electromagnetics, Behavioral sciences, INTELLIGENT SURFACES
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 1979-2012 IEEE.The physical layer security (PLS) of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) is critical for providing secure and reliable communications in sixth generation (6G) wireless systems. This article contributes to a debate on many aspects of unique vulnerabilities that can arise in the PLS of RIS with malicious attacks on signal processing (SP) in 6G networks. We address and categorize future security threats in RIS-aided networks considering PLS aspects. Metasurface manipulation attacks (MSMA) are based on manipulating metasurface behavior for malicious purposes. In this study, we present the potential hostile activities of MSMA considering the impact of electromagnetic and time-frequency deterioration. In addition, we evaluate various interference-based MSMA and eavesdropping booster-based MSMA (EaB-MSMA), which are novel potential PLS attacks that involve manipulating phase shifting activity with SP on malicious RIS. We also compare performance degradation in the presence of hostile interference-based MSMA through the manipulation of maliciously configured RIS. Additionally, in the EaB-MSMA case, the loss of secrecy capacity is shown to be considerably greater in passive eavesdropping scenarios.