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A Comprehensive Review of Cyber-Physical Attacks on Digital Signaling Processing System (DSP)

Davies Isobo Nelson, Bassey Aniefiok Tom, Akintunde Abiodun Ibrahim, and, Cookey Ibiere Boma

Abstract

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) systems are at the core of modern cyber-physical infrastructures, powering applications in automotive, healthcare, telecommunications, industrial control, and aerospace domains. However, their resource-constrained design and deterministic execution expose them to a wide spectrum of cyber-physical attacks that can compromise both digital integrity and physical safety. This paper presents a comprehensive review of cyber-physical attacks on DSP systems, analysing vulnerabilities across hardware, software, communication, and algorithmic layers. A structured taxonomy is proposed, categorizing attacks into deception, disruption, and destruction, while real-world case studies illustrate their practical impact. Existing defense mechanisms are examined, ranging from hardware isolation and secure firmware updates to anomaly detection and hybrid security architectures, with a comparative analysis highlighting their strengths and limitations. Finally, open challenges and future research directions are identified, emphasizing the need for lightweight cryptography, resilient DSP architectures, adversarially robust machine learning, and standardized security frameworks. The review concludes that securing DSP systems requires a layered, interdisciplinary approach that balances performance with robustness to safeguard critical infrastructures against evolving threats.

Keywords

Digital Signal Processing (DSP)Cyber-Physical SystemsSecurity Vulnerabilities

References

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