Securing V2X-enabled unmanned vehicles: a comprehensive taxonomy of cyber threats and countermeasures

The advent of unmanned vehicles integrated with Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication technology has revolutionized various sectors by enabling enhanced operational coordination and real-time data exchange. However, this integration has also introduced a plethora of cyber threats that pose significant risks to the safety, functionality, and security of these systems. This paper presents a comprehensive taxonomy of cyber threats targeting V2X-enabled unmanned vehicles and the corresponding countermeasures necessary for their mitigation. Through a detailed review, this study explores the technological foundations of V2X communication, its integration with different classes of unmanned vehicles, and the multifaceted cyber threats that arise from such integration. The paper further discusses the defense strategies across various domains—ground, aerial, and underwater—and emphasizes the need for robust encryption, secure authentication, and privacy-preserving techniques.