Integration of RFID in Battery Management Systems: A Cybersecurity Risk Assessment

The automotive industry is undergoing a massive transformation, moving towards electrification, software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and vehicle connectivity. These new challenges indirectly impact transformation in cybersecurity, where the increase in remote access enables the risks of attacks, data leaks and system manipulation. These risks can significantly impact safety, particularly in critical systems such as the Battery Management System (BMS). The BMS plays a crucial role in vehicle functionality, performance, and safety, as well as its numerous connections to external systems. Therefore, the cybersecurity evaluation and protection of such safety-critical systems are crucial, especially when such systems rely on wireless technology.
This paper presents a new BMS system prototype based on UHF RFID tags aimed at reducing complex wiring, increasing maintainability and improving battery cell monitoring. It assesses the cybersecurity risks by identifying the vulnerabilities and potential threats associated with the passive UHF RFID tags on a BMS System. Finally, it concludes with a proposal of elevant mitigation strategies for the identified risks.