Satellite Internet Security: Vulnerabilities in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

The New Orbital Attack Surface

Commercial space and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, once the domain of state actors, are now critical infrastructure for global internet connectivity. Starlink, Kuiper, and OneWeb have democratized satellite access, but security standards have lagged.

For security teams, satellite links represent a new, often unmonitored entry point into the corporate network. Traditional firewalls and IDPS solutions are ill-equipped to handle the unique protocols and threats of space-based communications.

Key Attack Vectors

1. Uplink Jamming & Spoofing: Attackers can broadcast powerful signals to overwhelm satellite receivers (jamming) or mimic legitimate ground stations (spoofing) to inject malicious commands. Without robust authentication and signal integrity checks, satellites can be hijacked or disabled.
2. Downlink Eavesdropping: Many legacy and even some modern commercial satellite downlinks lack strong encryption. Using inexpensive Software Defined Radios (SDRs), attackers can intercept data streams, potentially capturing sensitive corporate communications or intellectual property.
3. Ground Station Compromise: The "ground segment" remains the most vulnerable component. Attackers target the IT infrastructure of ground stations with malware and ransomware to pivot into the satellite control network.

Security Engineering for Space Systems

Defending against these threats requires a paradigm shift:

• End-to-End Encryption: Assume the link is compromised. Encrypt data at the application layer before it even hits the satellite modem.
• Zero Trust Architecture: Do not trust the satellite link implicitly. Segment satellite-connected devices from the main corporate network.
• Orbital Threat Intelligence: Monitor for anomalies in satellite telemetry and signal interference patterns.

Threat Detection: Geolocating the Ground Segment

To secure satellite communications, organizations must look beyond the physical link and monitor the network layer:

• Geo-Block Anomalies: Satellite ground stations have fixed geolocations. If traffic from a "secure" LEO constellation originates from an IP address geolocated to a sanctioned country or a known high-risk ASN, it is a critical indicator of compromise.
• Malicious IP Detection: Attackers using compromised VSAT terminals often reuse known malicious infrastructure. Real-time IP reputation checks can block command-and-control (C2) traffic before it reaches the satellite uplink.
• Threat Level Context: Traffic patterns that deviate from expected orbital paths (e.g., erratic latency + low reputation IP) should elevate the threat level to 'High', triggering automated isolation of the affected ground segment.