Using Attack-Defense Trees to Analyze Threats and Countermeasures in an ATM: A Case Study

Abstract

Securing automated teller machines (ATMs), as critical and complex infrastructure, requires a precise understanding of the associated threats. This paper reports on the application of attack-defense trees to model and analyze the security of ATMs. We capture the most dangerous multi-stage attack scenarios applicable to ATM structures, and establish a practical experience report, where we reflect on the process of modeling ATM threats via attack-defense trees. In particular, we share our insights into the benefits and drawbacks of attack-defense tree modeling, as well as best practices and lessons learned.