Implementing secured messages for V2X communication

This thesis addresses the inherent security challenges associated with Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication systems, which facilitate real-time data exchange between vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians, and networks. V2X technology is of great significance in enhancing road safety, optimising traffic management and minimising environmental impact. However, its open and dynamic nature renders it susceptible to a range of security threats. The aim of this study is to implement cryptographic solutions to guarantee the security of these communications, particularly through the utilisation of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA). It is imperative that these techniques be employed to ensure the integrity and authenticity of transmitted messages. This research project examines the implementation of the IEEE 1609.2 security protocols, a standard specifically designed for securing vehicular networks. These protocols address critical aspects such as message encryption, digital signatures and certificate management, which are fundamental to maintaining secure V2X communications. This thesis illustrates the manner in which cryptographic mechanisms can be deployed to safeguard against prevalent threats, including message manipulation, impersonation attacks and Sybil attack. In order to validate the effectiveness of the security measures, formal verification tools such as ProVerif are employed. These tools assist in the analysis of significant security properties, including message reachability, authentication, and confidentiality. The outcomes of the formal verification process affirm that the proposed cryptographic solutions effectively address the critical vulnerabilities identified in V2X networks. Moreover, performance assessments are conducted through simulations employing the MS-VAN3T and OScar frameworks. The simulations evaluate key performance metrics, including the packet reception ratio (PRR) and latency. The results demonstrate that the implementation of the security protocols has a negligible impact on communication efficiency, even in high-density traffic conditions. This serves to reinforce the feasibility of integrating robust security measures into V2X systems without any adverse impact on performance. In conclusion, this thesis presents a comprehensive approach to securing V2X communications through the implementation and evaluation of cryptographic protocols. Nevertheless, while the thesis focuses on authentication and integrity, future research should address the pivotal issue of privacy. The incorporation of privacy-preserving techniques, such as pseudonym management or encryption schemes that anonymise sensitive vehicle data, would assist in safeguarding user information, including vehicle identity and location. This would result in a more comprehensive security framework for V2X, encompassing the full range of contemporary vehicular network security requirements.