• Ana Sayfa

Graph-Based Cyber Threat Detection and Mitigation in Satellite Communication Systems Category: Strategic Priority Area Projects (AI/ Graph Theory)

Ahmad B.

Yükseköğretim Kurumları Destekli Proje, BAP Araştırma Projesi, 2025 - 2028

  • Proje Türü: Yükseköğretim Kurumları Destekli Proje
  • Destek Programı: BAP Araştırma Projesi
  • Başlama Tarihi: Eylül 2025
  • Bitiş Tarihi: Eylül 2028

Proje Özeti

This project proposes a novel cybersecurity framework for Low Earth Orbit satellite communication systems using graph theoretic anomaly detection and maximum clique analysis. As satellite constellations such as Starlink, OneWeb, and Türksat 6A expand, the attack surface for cyber threats including spoofing, jamming, and unauthorized access grows significantly. Conventional cryptographic and machine learning approaches face limitations in detecting coordinated attacks, particularly when nodes are compromised internally or when labeled training data is unavailable. Our methodology models the entire satellite ground network as a dynamic graph where satellites, ground terminals, and relays represent nodes and communication links represent edges. By applying maximum clique detection algorithms, we identify structural anomalies that manifest as unusually dense subgraphs indicative of coordinated malicious behavior. The project will be implemented in MATLAB over 24 months, encompassing LEO network simulation, threat behavior modeling, clique based detection, isolation response, and performance evaluation. Key deliverables include a modular simulation environment, custom anomaly detection algorithms, tested attack scenarios, and a MATLAB toolbox for academic use. The work extends the principal investigator's prior research in graph based optimization for satellite communications into the cybersecurity domain, with expected outcomes including at least one conference presentation, one journal publication, and a TUBITAK 1001 proposal. This research positions METU Northern Cyprus Campus as a strategic hub for satellite cybersecurity research, supporting national initiatives such as TEKNOFEST and establishing a foundation for future international collaborations in secure space communications.