TimeTravel - Real-time Timing Drift Attack on System Time Using Acoustic Waves

Explore a groundbreaking security vulnerability in Real-time Clock (RTC) circuits through this 16-minute conference presentation from USENIX Security '25. Discover how researchers have identified a novel attack method called TimeTravel that exploits acoustic resonance and piezoelectric effects to manipulate system time in real-time systems. Learn how acoustic guide waves applied to quartz crystals can modify the oscillating signals in RTC circuits, enabling attackers to accelerate or decelerate timing speed at adjustable rates and cause arbitrary forward or backward drift in system timestamps. Examine the experimental methodology used to test nine modules and two commercial devices, revealing that TimeTravel achieves up to 93% accuracy in time manipulation and maintains at least 77% success rates even in environments with typical obstacles. Understand the serious safety implications of dynamic system time modifications and gain insights into this previously unknown attack vector that affects the fundamental timing mechanisms relied upon by various real-time systems for precise time synchronization.