Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page R1
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD SPECIAL REPORT 274
CYBERSECURITY
OF FREIGHT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
A SCOPING STUDY
Committee on Freight Transportation Information Systems Security
Computer Science and Telecommunications Board
Transportation Research Board
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
Washington, D.C.
2003
www.TRB.org
OCR for page R1
Transportation Research Board Special Report 274
Subscriber Categories
VIII freight transportation (multimodal)
IX marine transportation
Transportation Research Board publications are available by ordering individual publications directly
from the TRB Business Office, through the Internet at www.TRB.org or national-academies.org/trb,
or by annual subscription through organizational or individual affiliation with TRB. Affiliates and
library subscribers are eligible for substantial discounts. For further information, contact the
Transportation Research Board Business Office, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
(telephone 202-334-3213; fax 202-334-2519; or e-mail TRBsales@nas.edu).
Copyright 2003 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the
National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of
Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the
committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for
appropriate balance.
This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to the procedures
approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences,
the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
The study was sponsored by the Research and Special Programs Administration of the U.S.
Department of Transportation.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Freight Transportation Information Systems Security.
Cybersecurity of freight information systems : a scoping study / Committee on Freight
Transportation Information Systems Security, Transportation Research Board of the National
Academies.
p. cm.—(Special report)
ISBN 0-309-08555-1
1. Telecommunication—Safety measures. 2. Freight and freightage—Security measures. I. Title.
II. Special report (National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board)
TK5103.2.N39 2003
388Ј.044Ј028558—dc22
2003056526
OCR for page R1
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of dis-
tinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the further-
ance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. On the authority of
the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires
it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts
is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the
National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is
autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the
National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The
National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting
national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements
of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to
secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of pol-
icy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility
given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to
the federal government and, on its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research,
and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916
to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of
furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with
general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operat-
ing agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of
Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engi-
neering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both the Academies and the
Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf are chair and vice chair,
respectively, of the National Research Council.
The Transportation Research Board is a division of the National Research Council, which
serves the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. The
Board’s mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation through research. In
an objective and interdisciplinary setting, the Board facilitates the sharing of information on
transportation practice and policy by researchers and practitioners; stimulates research and
offers research management services that promote technical excellence; provides expert advice
on transportation policy and programs; and disseminates research results broadly and encour-
ages their implementation. The Board’s varied activities annually engage more than 4,000
engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public
and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public inter-
est. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including
the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organi-
zations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org
www.national-academies.org
OCR for page R1
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
2003 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*
Chair: Genevieve Giuliano, Director, Metrans Transportation Center, and
Professor, School of Policy, Planning, and Development, University of
Southern California, Los Angeles
Vice Chair: Michael S. Townes, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Transit,
Virginia
Executive Director: Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Transportation Research Board
Michael W. Behrens, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation,
Austin
Joseph H. Boardman, Commissioner, New York State Department of
Transportation, Albany
Sarah C. Campbell, President, TransManagement, Inc., Washington, D.C.
E. Dean Carlson, President, Carlson Associates, Topeka, Kansas (Past Chair,
2002)
Joanne F. Casey, President and CEO, Intermodal Association of North America,
Greenbelt, Maryland
James C. Codell III, Secretary, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Frankfort
John L. Craig, Director, Nebraska Department of Roads, Lincoln
Bernard S. Groseclose, Jr., President and CEO, South Carolina State Ports
Authority, Charleston
Susan Hanson, Landry University Professor of Geography, Graduate School of
Geography, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts
Lester A. Hoel, L.A. Lacy Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Department of
Civil Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville (Past Chair, 1986)
Henry L. Hungerbeeler, Director, Missouri Department of Transportation,
Jefferson City
Adib K. Kanafani, Cahill Professor and Chairman, Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Ronald F. Kirby, Director of Transportation Planning, Metropolitan Washington
Council of Governments, Washington, D.C.
Herbert S. Levinson, Principal, Herbert S. Levinson Transportation Consultant,
New Haven, Connecticut
Michael D. Meyer, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Jeff P. Morales, Director of Transportation, California Department of
Transportation, Sacramento
Kam Movassaghi, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development, Baton Rouge
Carol A. Murray, Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Transportation,
Concord
David Plavin, President, Airports Council International, Washington, D.C.
John Rebensdorf, Vice President, Network and Service Planning, Union Pacific
Railroad Company, Omaha, Nebraska
*Membership as of August 2003.
OCR for page R1
Catherine L. Ross, Harry West Chair of Quality Growth and Regional
Development, College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
John M. Samuels, Senior Vice President, Operations Planning and Support,
Norfolk Southern Corporation, Norfolk, Virginia (Past Chair, 2001)
Paul P. Skoutelas, CEO, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
Martin Wachs, Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of
California, Berkeley (Past Chair, 2000)
Michael W. Wickham, Chairman and CEO, Roadway Express, Inc., Akron, Ohio
Marion C. Blakey, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S.
Department of Transportation (ex officio)
Samuel G. Bonasso, Acting Administrator, Research and Special Programs
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)
Rebecca M. Brewster, President and COO, American Transportation Research
Institute, Smyrna, Georgia (ex officio)
Thomas H. Collins (Adm., U.S. Coast Guard), Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard,
Washington, D.C. (ex officio)
Jennifer L. Dorn, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, U.S.
Department of Transportation (ex officio)
Robert B. Flowers (Lt. Gen., U.S. Army), Chief of Engineers and Commander,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)
Harold K. Forsen, Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Engineering,
Washington, D.C. (ex officio)
Edward R. Hamberger, President and CEO, Association of American Railroads,
Washington, D.C. (ex officio)
John C. Horsley, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)
Michael P. Jackson, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
(ex officio)
Roger L. King, Chief Technologist, Applications Division, National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)
Robert S. Kirk, Director, Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies, U.S.
Department of Energy (ex officio)
Rick Kowalewski, Acting Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S.
Department of Transportation (ex officio)
William W. Millar, President, American Public Transportation Association,
Washington, D.C. (ex officio) (Past Chair, 1992)
Mary E. Peters, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, U.S.
Department of Transportation (ex officio)
Suzanne Rudzinski, Director, Transportation and Regional Programs, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (ex officio)
Jeffrey W. Runge, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)
Allan Rutter, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department
of Transportation (ex officio)
Annette M. Sandberg, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)
William G. Schubert, Administrator, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department
of Transportation (ex officio)
OCR for page R1
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
David D. Clark, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chair
Eric Benhamou, 3Com Corporation
David Borth, Motorola Labs
John M. Cioffi, Stanford University
Elaine Cohen, University of Utah
W. Bruce Croft, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Thomas E. Darcie, University of Victoria
Joseph Farrell, University of California, Berkeley
Joan Feigenbaum, Yale University
Hector Garcia-Molina, Stanford University
Wendy Kellogg, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Butler W. Lampson, Microsoft Corporation
David Liddle, U.S. Venture Partners
Tom M. Mitchell, Carnegie Mellon University
David A. Patterson, University of California, Berkeley
Henry (Hank) Perritt, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Daniel Pike, GCI Cable and Entertainment
Eric Schmidt, Google Inc.
Fred B. Schneider, Cornell University
Burton Smith, Cray Inc.
Lee Sproull, New York University
William Stead, Vanderbilt University
Jeannette M. Wing, Microsoft Research; Carnegie Mellon University
(on leave)
Marjory S. Blumenthal, Director
OCR for page R1
COMMITTEE ON FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION
INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY
Robert E. Gallamore, Chair, Director, Transportation Center, Northwestern
University
A. Ray Chamberlain, Vice Chair, Vice President, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.
Frank J. Anstett, Manager, Infrastructure Security, Raytheon Company
Samuel H. Banks, Senior Vice President, U.S. Customs Modernization
Project, Sandler and Travis Trade Advisory Services
Richard A. Holmes, Jr., General Director, Security and Quality Assurance,
Union Pacific Railroad
Barry Horowitz, NAE, Professor, Department of Systems Engineering,
University of Virginia
John L. King, Professor and Dean, School of Information, University of
Michigan
Lars Kjaer, Vice President, World Shipping Council
Art Kosatka, Chief Executive Officer, TranSecure LLC
Steven J. Lambright, Vice President, Savi Technology
Daniel Murray, Director of Research, American Transportation Research
Institute
Frank M. Pittelli, President, Navius Technologies, LLC
Alan F. Spear, President, MRC Investigations (USA), Inc.
Karen Ryan Tobia, Manager, Technology Planning, Port Commerce
Department, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STAFF
Alan T. Crane, Study Director
Steven Woo, Program Officer
OCR for page R1
OCR for page R1
PREFACE
The merger of information system technology and transportation infrastructure
is transforming the freight transportation industry in a variety of ways. These
changes are producing new ways to organize companies’ supply chains as well as
military logistics. As the new freight information systems become more fully
integrated, they are expected to have great private and public benefits.
These systems, however, may be vulnerable to cyberattack. In accordance
with the national initiative to increase security of critical infrastructure, the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) requested that the National Research
Council (NRC) review trends in the use of information technology in the freight
transportation industry and assess potential vulnerabilities to a cyberattack. In
response, NRC formed the Committee on Freight Transportation Information
Systems Security, under the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the
Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, to conduct a scoping study
to develop an approach, study, or other process that DOT could use to address
the vulnerabilities of freight information systems.
Specifically, the committee was charged with recommending how to conduct
a study that would result in
1. A baseline description of the U.S. freight transportation communication and
information systems, including interconnectivity with international carriers, gov-
ernment entities (U.S. and non-U.S.), customers, and other business partners;
2. A summary of ongoing and emerging efforts in such areas as electronic data
interchange, telecommunications and data transfer, trends in the use of the
Internet, business practices, customs, immigration and agriculture clearance
processes, electronic letters of credit, integrated logistics software, positive
train control, intelligent transportation systems, and all other information-
and communication-based processes and technology improvements that affect
transportation, shipping, and logistics;
3. A review of current industry practices addressing security (with emphasis on
information technology–related dimensions); and
ix
OCR for page R1
x CYBERSECURITY OF FREIGHT INFORMATION SYSTEMS: A SCOPING STUDY
4. An identification and summary of the potential vulnerabilities that may be
created by the interconnection/interface and possible integration of these new
systems.
One of the complexities of a project such as this is that developers and oper-
ators of the relevant system will be reluctant to discuss or admit to specific secu-
rity weaknesses publicly. Thus the committee had to recommend a process that
would permit the problems to be identified and addressed.
The committee held its first meeting on November 25–26, 2002. The project,
from committee formation to final report, took 7 months. During that time the
committee met twice at NRC headquarters in Washington, D.C. In addition, its
members and staff held numerous telephone conferences to discuss their findings.
After the start of the study, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
which incorporates many of the relevant functions formerly performed by DOT,
was created. Hence the committee directs many of its recommendations and
comments to DHS as well as to DOT.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals selected for their
diverse technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the
NRC’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is
to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in mak-
ing the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets
institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study
charge. The review comments remain confidential to protect the integrity of the
deliberative process.
The reviewers of this report were Noel D. Matchett, Information Security,
Inc.; Steven B. Lipner, Microsoft Corporation; Peter Martin, Lakeville Motor
Express; and David Zanca, Federal Express. The committee is grateful for the
many constructive comments and suggestions the reviewers provided. The
reviewers were not, however, asked to endorse the findings and conclusions, nor
did they see the final draft before its release. Responsibility for the final content
of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and NRC.
The review of this report was overseen by Lester A. Hoel, University of
Virginia, Charlottesville. He was appointed by NRC to ensure that an indepen-
dent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional
procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Suzanne
OCR for page R1
PREFACE xi
Schneider, Associate Executive Director of TRB, managed the report review
process. The committee appreciates the speed and efficiency of this review.
This study was managed by Alan T. Crane under the direction of the com-
mittee and the supervision of Stephen Godwin, Director of TRB’s Studies and
Information Services.
The report was written by the committee members and the NRC staff. The
committee also appreciates the vital contributions of Jocelyn Sands, Frances
E. Holland, and Amelia B. Mathis. Joedy W. Cambridge and Joseph A. Breen
provided valuable suggestions while the committee was being formed. This report
has been edited by Norman Solomon under the supervision of Nancy Ackerman,
Director of Publications.
Robert E. Gallamore, Chair
A. Ray Chamberlain, Vice-Chair
Committee on Freight Transportation Information Systems Security
OCR for page R1
ACRONYMS AND
GLOSSARY
ABI Automated Broker Interface.
ACE Automated Commercial Environment.
ACS Automated Commercial System.
AES U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Export
System.
Airbill Receipt for carriage of air freight.
AMS U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Manifest
System.
ANSI X12 Voluntary standards, maintained by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI), defining the structure, format, and content of
business transactions conducted through electronic data interchange
(EDI). ANSI X12 is produced by the committee ASC X12, supported by
the Data Interchange Standards Association, Inc. (DISA).
APIS Advanced passenger information system.
ATIS Advanced traffic information system.
ATRI American Transportation Research Institute.
ATS Advance targeting system.
AVI Automatic vehicle identification.
BASSC Business Anti-Smuggling Security Coalition.
Bill of lading A statement of the nature and value of goods being transported,
especially by ship, along with the conditions applying to their transport.
Drawn up by the carrier, this document serves as a contract between the
owner of the goods and the carrier.
CAMIR Customs Automated Interface Requirements.
CHCP Cargo Handling Cooperative Program.
CRM Customer relationship management.
CSTB Computer Science and Telecommunications Board of the National
Academies.
CSI Container Security Initiative.
Cyberterrorism Terrorism related to computer and information systems.
DASD Direct-access storage device.
xii
OCR for page R1
ACRONYMS AND GLOSSARY xiii
Denial-of-service (DOS) attack An attack on a computer network effected
by overloading the access points, so that further access is slowed or stopped
altogether.
DHS Department of Homeland Security.
DNS Domain name service.
DOT Department of Transportation.
Drayage Generally, carriage of freight, often by truck.
EA Enterprise architecture.
EDI Electronic data interchange.
ERP Enterprise resource planning.
ESCM Electronic supply chain manifest.
ExpressLink Proprietary system for interconnecting the corporate-level sys-
tems of four regional trucking companies.
FAA Federal Aviation Administration.
FAST Free and Secure Trade.
FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation.
FHWA Federal Highway Administration.
Firewalls Hardware and software systems intended to isolate a local area net-
work from access.
FIRST Freight Information Real-Time System (for Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey).
Forwarder A company that ships cargo for hire.
Freight brokers A company that arranges or consolidates freight shipments.
Freight forwarder See “forwarder.”
GPS Global Positioning System.
Hazmat Hazardous material.
IBIS Interagency Border Information System.
INS Immigration and Naturalization Service.
ISAC Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
ISO International Standards Organization.
IT Information technology.
ITDS International Trade Data System.
ITS Intelligent transportation systems.
Jones Act The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 and related statutes, requiring
that vessels used to transport cargo and passengers between U.S. ports be
owned by U.S. citizens, built in U.S. shipyards, and manned by U.S.-citizen
crews.
OCR for page R1
xiv CYBERSECURITY OF FREIGHT INFORMATION SYSTEMS: A SCOPING STUDY
Just-in-time (JIT) A business system of supplying to each process what is
needed at the time it is needed, and in the quantity needed, to minimize
production lead times and reduce inventory.
LIA Logistics Integration Agency.
Load bidding For carriers, the practice of negotiating for freight.
Merchant haulage Transport of cargo in shipping containers arranged by the
owner or possessor of the goods.
MTMC Military Traffic Management Command.
NHS National Highway System.
NOA Notice of arrival.
NRC National Research Council of the National Academies.
NVMC National Vessel Movement Center.
NVOCC Non–vessel operating common carrier.
OSC Operation Safe Commerce.
Positive train control The use of digital data communications, automatic
positioning systems, wayside interface units (to communicate with switches
and wayside detectors), onboard and control center computers, and other
advanced display, sensor, and control technologies to manage and control
railroad operations.
Red teaming Acting as an adversary for the unauthorized access to a physical
or computer system to expose the system’s vulnerabilities.
RFID Radio frequency identification.
R&D Research and development.
SCADA Supervisory control and data acquisition.
Sim-Tag Simulator for RFID tags.
SSTL Smart and Secure Trade Lanes.
TECS Treasury Enforcement Communications System.
Third-party logistics provider (3PL) Provider of logistics services for hire.
TRB Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.
TSA Transportation Security Administration.
TSWG Trucking Security and Anti-Terrorism Working Group.
TWIC Transportation worker identification card.
USDOT U.S. Department of Transportation.
VHF Very high frequency.
VPN Virtual private network.
Waybill Shipping document.
WCO World Customs Organization.
XML Extensible markup language.
OCR for page R1
CONTENTS
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1 The Evolving Freight Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
How Efficient Transportation Creates Economic Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Differences Among Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2 Freight Information System Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Existing IT Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
IT Trends and Emerging Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3 Planning a Full Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Assessing Security Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Study Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Appendixes
A Information Management Systems in the
International Liner Shipping Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
B Security Initiatives and Programs with
Cybersecurity Relevance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
C Protecting International Trade Corridors:
The Operation Safe Commerce Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
D U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Use of Information Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Study Committee Biographical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
OCR for page R1