Securing Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships: Cyber Threat Scenarios and Testbed Validation

The maritime industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation, with Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) at the forefront, introducing unprecedented cybersecurity challenges. This study addresses critical research gaps by identifying high-risk equipment based on international classification society standards and proposing a framework to analyze and mitigate vulnerabilities in MASS environments. Eight attack scenarios were designed using the MITRE ATT&CK ICS framework, with the most critical scenario validated on a testbed mimicking real-world shipboard networks. Key experiments uncovered zero-day vulnerabilities in SATCOM terminals and network switches, highlighting the potential for remote cyberattacks and the necessity for improved cyber resilience in MASS systems. This research offers a replicable methodology and foundational tools for advancing the cybersecurity of autonomous maritime systems.