Description
Master’s thesis in cooperation with Fraunhofer AISEC
Towards a Secure Configuration Model Architecture for Time-sensitive Networks
Modern distributed systems as they can be found in the automotive and industrial sector
require complex and capable networking architectures allowing for real-time communica-
tion and flexible configuration. Those architecture have been developed with performance
in mind, but usually lack proper security analysis. Your task will be to narrow this gap,
analysing threats against the configuration mechanisms (configuration models and the
Stream Reservation Protcol) of Time-sensitive networks (TSNs).
Task Description
Your work will focus on the following aspects:
• Familiarize with the TSN standard [1, Chap. 35, 46] and understand the fundamental
aspects of the configuration models and the stream reservation protocol
• Analyze those configuration models according to a threat model using a systematic
approach
• Derive open weaknesses in the standard and prioritize their effects on those dis-
tributed systems
• Propose and eventually implement effective countermeasures against the identified
weaknesses
Requirements
• High motivation and ability to work independently
• Interest in working with standardized protocol specifications
• Good knowledge in computer networks and cybersecurity
Contact
Please send your application with current CV and transcript of records to:
Lukas Lautenschlager
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security (AISEC)
Product Protection and Industrial Security
Lichtenbergstr. 11, 85748 Garching near Munich
Mail: lukas.lautenschlager@aisec.fraunhofer.de
*
References
[1] ISO/IEC/IEEE International Standard: Telecommunications and exchange between in-
formation technology systems – Requirements for local and metropolitan area net-
works – Part 1Q: Bridges and bridged networks.
Publication Date: 18.03.2026
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Thesis topic in co-operation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security AISEC, Garching