Enhancing Counter Synchronization in a Secure Communication Scheme for CAN-Based Automotive Embedded Systems

In the realm of CAN-based automotive systems, secure communication among Electronic Control Units (ECUs) is of utmost importance. It is crucial to safeguard data integrity and prevent any unauthorized access or interference by third parties. Robust cryptographic protocols, like HMAC verification, play a significant role in ensuring secure and reliable data transmission between ECUs, bolstering the overall security of the automotive network. This paper conducts a thorough analysis of a secure communication scheme employing HMAC for message verification, along with a counter embedded in data messages for synchronization. Despite its promising outcomes, the study identifies and addresses three key limitations in the scheme related to counter synchronization. To tackle these challenges, this research proposes practical solutions, which have been successfully implemented, tested, and validated to ensure robust counter synchronization, thus enhancing the overall security of CAN-based automotive embedded systems.