Coordinated Cyber Attacks in Distribution Grid with Distributed Energy Resources: Attacker Perspective

Abstract

This paper investigates the problem of multi-stage and multi-wave coordinated cyber-attacks in active distribution systems with high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) from an attacker perspective. The contribution is twofold. First, we develop a multi-stage attack algorithm based on the Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain model. Then we formulate an optimization problem to compromise voltage control in the distribution network by guaranteeing the detection failure. Second, we construct the time-selective multi-wave DoS attacks and characterize the impact on system performance quantitatively. In the following, we provide an instability condition and then utilize an optimal signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) approach to ensure the stealthiness and persistence of attacks. Finally, case studies on IEEE 13-node test feeder with PV systems are conducted to verify the effectiveness of proposed attacks.