Space Cybersecurity: a Strategic Issue in the Current Geopolitical Context

by Anaïs Shay-Lynn Vydelingum

The security of space infrastructures is a geopolitical issue, as space-based resources are increasingly used by our societies in all fields, from construction and financial markets to military capabilities. The rapid development of objects and services powered by satellites is contributing to a growing dependence on space in all fields. Being present in space has become a strategic issue over time, depending on the interest of decision-makers in the use of space. Protecting satellites in low, medium, or geostationary orbit is now a strategic asset for governments, the military, and commercial operators alike, to ensure continuity of service and guarantee a degree of resilience.

The Viasat case (2022): the various impacts of a cyberattack via the satellite network

On February 24, 2022, Viasat was the victim of a cyber-attack affecting their KA-SAT network. Due to its singularity and the context in which it took place, this attack has become a textbook case in the field of space cybersecurity. 

Several modems were hacked, and thousands of customers in Europe, particularly in the Ukraine, were left without internet access for around a month. The attack began about an hour before Russia began its invasion. The vulnerability used by the attackers was CVE-2018-13379, corresponding to a Fortinet firewall vulnerability discovered in 2019. The attackers selected specific beam spots and then sent a signal to the modems once on the trusted management segment of the KA-SAT network. They exploited VPN vulnerability to access....