A Short Review of Security-Aware Techniques in Real-Time Embedded Systems

Abstract

With the rapid development of embedded systems, users and services have been greatly facilitated while also experiencing security threats as a result of cyber-attacks and system vulnerabilities. Currently, the real-time embedded system (RTES) focus is to deal with these security issues. In this paper, we introduce a short review of security-aware techniques for RTES. We mainly discuss two common approaches to improve the security of RTESs. The first approach is achieved by exploring specific attacks. The second approach is realized by deploying security-guaranteed services. However, improving the security of embedded systems may cause excessive energy consumption at the same time. Therefore, we investigate the secure and energy-aware RTESs on a wide range of research. In addition, we study a number of common applications used in secure RETSs. This paper stands for providing awareness and better understanding of the current RTES research status as well as technical theory behind it. Hence, the RTES security issues are resolved.

Analytical Review of Cybersecurity for Embedded Systems

“…In other words, if the capabilities of ESs increase in terms of points of connection and input units, then attack surfaces increase, thereby increasing the probability that the system is hacked. [26] ES design principles [20] ESs' security from new dimension [27] Security-aware and real-time ES [28] Hardware enhancement of ES [29] Cybersecurity for cyber-physical system [22] IoT and security measurements [30] Taxonomy of detection approaches [31] Data privacy and policy problems survey [13] Security requirements and challenges in IoT [32] Challenges, threats and solutions of IoT [33] A roadmap for security challenges in the IoT [7] A taxonomy of threats, vulnerabilities and attacks. [34] A survey of cyber-physical systems security [35] Security framework for IoT…”

“…It is also worth mentioning the criticality of a real-time embedded system (RTES). Specific security countermeasures for RTES can be implemented in two stages: (i) identify specific attacks that could threaten the systems; and (ii) implement security-guaranteed services, overcoming the challenges of real-time performance and energy consumption [27]. The study in [88] showed how security measures could be circumvented in different platforms.…”

“…A cyber-attack could produce severe consequences, e.g., the damage of all systems connected to the targeted system. Hence, it is important to consider the impacts and responses to potential cyber incidents, caused by attacks on these levels [95], [27], [130], [131], [126].…”

Attack-Detection Architectural Framework Based on Anomalous Patterns of System Performance and Resource Utilization—Part II

“…Constrained resources hinder the implementation of advanced encryption (ciphers and deciphers), intrusion detection systems (IDSs), and other advanced security solutions. Most of the sophisticated security countermeasures require intensive computing and inevitably consume more energy, as these solutions are power-hungry [17]. Also, Riahi Sfar et al addressed the issue of existing cryptographic algorithms, which require more resources in terms of processing power, memory, and energy, which may be unavailable in limited resource SoCs [18] due to the systems' nature.…”

“…Neglecting security countermeasures at the early stages of ES design increases the number of unprotected entry points, which can result in unauthorized access to the system. As many ESs are battery-powered, and as long as the enhancement of security solutions might sacrifice part of the power sources, it is crucial to at minimum reduce the amount of power consumption with lightweight and efficient solutions [17]. Running robust encryption on ESs with their constrained resources is a critical challenge [19], [20].…”