Two-way coding in control systems under injection attacks: from attack detection to attack correction

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce the method of two-way coding, a concept originating in communication theory characterizing coding schemes for two-way channels, into (networked) feedback control systems under injection attacks. We first show that the presence of two-way coding can distort the perspective of the attacker on the control system. In general, the distorted viewpoint on the attacker side as a consequence of two-way coding will facilitate detecting the attacks, or restricting what the attacker can do, or even correcting the attack effect. In the particular case of zero-dynamics attacks, if the attacks are to be designed according to the original plant, then they will be easily detected; while if the attacks are designed with respect to the equivalent plant as viewed by the attacker, then under the additional assumption that the plant is stabilizable by static output feedback, the attack effect may be corrected in steady state.