2024/04/15 by Serhat Bakirtas, Matthieu R. Bloch, Bakirtas, Serhat +3
Computer Science · #Adversarial Robustness in Machine Learning #FOS: Computer and information sciences #Information Theory (cs.IT) #Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) and Hardware Security
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2404.09922
openalex publication_date 2024/04/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Hardware Trojans can inflict harm on wireless networks by exploiting the link margins inherent in communication systems. We investigate a setting in which, alongside a legitimate communication link, a hardware Trojan embedded in the legitimate transmitter attempts to establish communication with its intended rogue receiver. To illustrate the susceptibility of wireless networks against pilot attacks, we examine a two-phased scenario. In the channel estimation phase, the Trojan carries out a covert pilot scaling attack to corrupt the channel estimation of the legitimate receiver. Subsequently, in the communication phase, the Trojan exploits the ensuing imperfect channel estimation to covertly communicate with its receiver. By analyzing the corresponding hypothesis tests conducted by the legitimate receiver in both phases, we establish that the pilot scaling attack allows the Trojan to operate in the so-called "linear regime" i.e., covertly and reliably transmitting at a positive rate to the rogue receiver. Our results highlight the vulnerability of the channel estimation process in wireless communication systems against hardware Trojans.