Evaluating Lightweight Block Cipher Payload Encryption for Real-Time CAN Traffic
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arXiv
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866915935093260288 |
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| author | Setterstrom, Kevin Straub, Jeremy |
| author_facet | Setterstrom, Kevin Straub, Jeremy |
| contents | This study evaluates the feasibility of integrating lightweight block cipher payload encryption into a real-time embedded controller area network (CAN) node using a QT PY ESP32-S2 microcontroller. This work seeks to determine whether the use of a block cipher can prevent semantic taxonomy-based reverse engineering, which infers signal meaning from unencrypted CAN traffic using observation and statistical analysis. CAN payloads are encrypted using a lightweight block cipher and evaluated through experiments that measure timing impact, payload pattern observability, and correlation-based inference. Results indicate that encryption masks constant values and predictable signal patterns while preserving a 100 Hz transmission schedule. These findings suggest that lightweight payload encryption can reduce passive, observation based inference of CAN signal semantics on resource-constrained hardware with limited timing overhead impact. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_11853 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Evaluating Lightweight Block Cipher Payload Encryption for Real-Time CAN Traffic Setterstrom, Kevin Straub, Jeremy Cryptography and Security This study evaluates the feasibility of integrating lightweight block cipher payload encryption into a real-time embedded controller area network (CAN) node using a QT PY ESP32-S2 microcontroller. This work seeks to determine whether the use of a block cipher can prevent semantic taxonomy-based reverse engineering, which infers signal meaning from unencrypted CAN traffic using observation and statistical analysis. CAN payloads are encrypted using a lightweight block cipher and evaluated through experiments that measure timing impact, payload pattern observability, and correlation-based inference. Results indicate that encryption masks constant values and predictable signal patterns while preserving a 100 Hz transmission schedule. These findings suggest that lightweight payload encryption can reduce passive, observation based inference of CAN signal semantics on resource-constrained hardware with limited timing overhead impact. |
| title | Evaluating Lightweight Block Cipher Payload Encryption for Real-Time CAN Traffic |
| topic | Cryptography and Security |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.11853 |