Vulnerability analysis for distributed and coordinated destabilization attacks

Abstract

This paper focuses on how the vulnerability of an LTI system to destabilizing attacks can be posed as its robustness to external disturbances. First, we extend existing work on single link attack models to a more generalized attack model that allows for multiple link attacks. This is done by extending the partial structure representation of dynamical structure functions to include external perturbations. Given the new model, we then discuss how to determine the vulnerability of the system for both coordinated and distributed destabilizing attacks on a system. Finally, we develop a separability result for vulnerability in feedback systems that will be useful in determining secure architectures for structured controller design.