Auditory Stimulus Attack in XR: Stimulus Characteristics and Technical Background Considerations

With the rapid advancement and broader adoption of XR (Cross/Extended Reality) technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), addressing emerging cybersecurity risks has become increasingly critical. XR’s unique immersive and realistic nature introduces unprecedented vulnerabilities related to user sensory perception, especially auditory stimuli. Although auditory stimulus-based attacks remain under-explored, their risks are poised to grow substantially as spatial audio technologies become integrated into everyday life.This study systematically analyzes auditory stimulus threats in XR. First, we categorize fundamental and XR-specific auditory characteristics to establish a foundational framework for potential attack methods. Second, we comprehensively classify realistic threats and scenarios involving auditory stimuli. Finally, we present an initial empirical evaluation of spatial audio localization accuracy in current VR devices, highlighting technological limitations and future attack feasibility.Our preliminary findings proactively identify vulnerabilities before real-world exploitation occurs ―a rare opportunity in cybersecurity. This work establishes a critical baseline, fostering future research and enabling proactive discussions within the XR security community.