SigOverlay: A security evaluation model based on reference signals

The integration of satellite and terrestrial networks effectively addresses geographical limitations, providing extensive and seamless connectivity. Despite robust security measures implemented in both terrestrial networks and satellite communication systems, certain inherent vulnerabilities in LTE/5G protocols can still be exploited, potentially compromising security. In this paper, we propose a security evaluation model, SigOverlay, which targets both terrestrial cellular networks and satellite communication networks. By exploiting the inherent openness of the Physical Broadcast Channel, SigOverlay can stealthily disrupt regular communication without incurring substantial additional power consumption. Experiments with commercial software-defined radios demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of this strategy, revealing security risks in integrated satellite-terrestrial networks.