Automotive Ethernet – The Future of In-Vehicle Communication.
In the previous installment, I briefly described bus-based protocols and the security limitations associated with them. Now, it’s time to discuss the Ethernet protocol—developed in the 1970s, it has become the most widespread method of ensuring communication in the Internet. Paradoxically, Ethernet is older than the CAN bus mentioned in the first part of this series, yet this older solution enables the development of vehicles that meet the needs of modern users.
What Is Automotive Ethernet?
There are dedicated implementations for the automotive industry—AE, or Automotive Ethernet. The key difference lies in the physical layer. Standard Ethernet uses two twisted pairs—one for transmitting data and the other for receiving it. In contrast, Automotive Ethernet utilizes only a single twisted pair, which simultaneously transmits and receives data. AE cables are typically shorter and must withstand the harsh physical conditions found in vehicles. Nevertheless, Automotive Ethernet retains all the advantages of the Ethernet protocol. AE plays a crucial role in the development of next-generation vehicles. These vehicles, beyond offering advanced infotainment and navigation systems, include voice-controlled virtual assistants and, ultimately, will evolve into fully autonomous units. As these functionalities advance, vehicles will increasingly require the higher bandwidth offered by AE.
Automotive Ethernet and the Development of Autonomous Vehicles
As early as 2019, Alan Amici, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for TE Connectivity’s Transportation Solutions, highlighted the necessity of higher-speed Ethernet connections in vehicles. Only by increasing data transmission speeds can in-vehicle networks meet the demands of autonomous vehicles (AVs).
“Wireless networks may offer certain advantages in AV internal and external communications, but AVs cannot rely on a network that carries any risk of delay, making wired networks the safest solution,” Amici noted. “Semi-autonomous vehicles today have network speeds ranging from 500 kilobits per second to 1 megabit per second, but fully autonomous vehicles will require networks capable of speeds approaching 10 to 20 gigabits per second.” (Source: Advanced automotive ethernet could safeguard AVs against network delays)
TSN i QoS – Key Technologies for Stable Communication
TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) is a technology that enables advanced services requiring predictable latency, thanks to traffic control mechanisms in QoS (Quality of Service) networks and guaranteed frequency bandwidth. Such services include Audio Video Bridging (AVB) for audio-video applications, in-vehicle infotainment systems, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), and ultimately, autonomous vehicles (though calling a car “autonomous” still seems somewhat odd).
Network Security in Vehicles – Challenges and Solutions
One of Ethernet’s greatest advantages is its scalability. Thanks to switches and routers, it is well-suited for hierarchical and segmented networks, which are crucial for security, connecting various modules, components, and subsystems.
This ability to implement Ethernet networks in vehicles makes it necessary—even imperative—to use network security controls to protect the network stack, beyond the segmentation mentioned earlier. Specific cybersecurity technologies and techniques for securing these networks will be covered in the next article.
The integration of an IP (Internet Protocol)-based system ensures seamless and reliable connectivity with external networks, cloud services, and mobile devices. This opens up possibilities for over-the-air (OTA) software updates, remote diagnostics, and vehicle-to-cloud (V2C) communication. However, it is important to emphasize that these functionalities also introduce new attack surfaces that must be carefully addressed.
V2X Communication and Cybersecurity in Automotive
A key cybersecurity challenge for the automotive industry is the secure implementation of networked vehicle systems, especially considering remote access to embedded vehicle systems while complying with R156 regulations and ISO 24089:2023 standards.
There are even more advanced communication solutions, such as V2X, sometimes referred to as C-V2X (Source: Wikipedia). This acronym stands for Vehicle-to-Everything communication, which enables wireless connectivity with any entity or element equipped with a wireless module that can interact with the vehicle. The primary goal of this type of communication is safety.
To Be Continued
In the next part of this series, after introducing readers to Automotive Ethernet (AE), we will explore network security controls and provide an overview of best practices for securing automotive network environments.
Author: Krzysztof Labuda,
Security Testing Consultant
A participant in the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH v11 program, which teaches the latest commercial-grade hacking tools, techniques, and methodologies used by hackers and information security professionals.
