An Endogenous Security Study of Telematics Box in Intelligent Connected Vehicles

Zhen Zhang, Yuezhong Zhang, Jinfeng Zhang, Jichao Xie, Shaoxun Liu

Abstract: Intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) are the result of technological advancements in the new era, greatly enhancing the driving experience. However, due to the complex nature of the system, the intelligence of devices, and the connectivity of data, a complex physical fusion system has been created. The in-vehicle Telematics Box (T-Box), serving as the central communication and data hub, faces challenges, such as network vulnerabilities, data privacy, and malicious attacks through untrusted software updates. Therefore, an in-vehicle T-Box with high reliability, security, and performance is an urgent product in the era of the Internet of Vehicles. This article investigates the endogenous security of the T-Box in ICV, with a focus on the integration of dynamic heterogeneous redundancy (DHR) architecture. The underlying idea is to transform the original system into multiple heterogeneous systems, where some of them handle the same business functions. By applying a consensus mechanism to detect malicious nodes and dynamically scheduling healthy nodes into the working mode, a self-purifying defense system with intrinsic security is formed. This design approach endows the T-Box with inherent defense capabilities against unknown vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, the in-vehicle T-Box is redesigned in the software and hardware implementation scheme. Experimental results demonstrate that the new design notably enhances and ensures the robust stability and elevated reliability of the in-vehicle T-Box. Evidently, the upgraded T-Box ensures the safe processing of in-vehicle CAN bus data.