Vehicular Platoons Security: A Review with an Emphasis on Sybil Attacks

Vehicular platoon is a new Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems (C-ITS) application that enables automated vehicles to drive close together with short inter-vehicle distances. To effectively manage platoons, efficient beaconing process and platoon formation algorithm are crucial. These later rely on in-vehicle network protocols to regulate the speed of vehicles and control the platoon. Throughout these processes, an efficient and secure communication architecture is vital. However, it is important to note that the used V2V communication protocol is susceptible to several cyberattacks that can lead to potential disruptions or even completely disabling the communication system. This paper reviews the potential threats that can target vehicular platoons with an emphasis on Sybil attacks. We offer detailed explanations of the diverse methods through which Sybil attacks can be perpetrated in platoons. Additionally, we explore recent techniques for detecting and mitigating Sybil attacks, point out their limits, and identify open challenges to stimulate further research in this promising field and improve the overall security of the platoon system.