The Unitronics PLC hack is an Iranian IRGC supply chain attack against multiple US critical infrastructures on US soil (it has also affected international users) targeting the Israeli-made Unitronics PLCs through its customers. The CISA response has been less than satisfactory as this was an attack against the PLCs whereas CISA’s recommendations only addressed IT […]
Category: Unfettered
Iran hacks US water system: Observation and implications of a terrorist attack on US soil
November 25, 2023, the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, PA had one of its booster stations hacked by an Iranian-backed cyber group – CyberAv3ngers. The booster station monitors and regulates pressure for customers within the City of Aliquippa and portions of two neighboring Townships. An alarm went off as soon as the hack had occurred […]
Cyber-related rail incidents have killed more than 490
Most rail cyber incidents have been IT cyberattacks. Existing government and industry cyber security guidelines have focused on these IT issues. The government and industry cyber security guidelines have often failed to address the control system cyber issues that have resulted in catastrophic control system cyber rail incidents. There have been more than fifty control […]
Forecasting where a hacker will go once inside an OT network
Work is ongoing in identifying cyber threats, and vulnerabilities, and locating hacker penetration in electric utility and other OT networks. However, existing technologies including IDS, IPS, SIEM, and SOAR can’t predict the future movement of a cyber intrusion that has successfully breached the OT network. Under US Air Force and DOE contracts, GCAS and its […]
ISA MLM-38A “Identifying Control System Cyber Incidents” has been issued
[UPDATED 21-Oct-2023] ISA99 has approved the peer-reviewed Micro Learning Module (MLM) 38A – “Identifying Control System Cyber Incidents”. Those wishing to see the MLM should send their request to ISA99Chair@gmail.com. It is not possible to have an effective OT/ICS cyber security program if you can’t identify control system incidents as being cyber-related. Yet, OT cyber security is […]
Recent control system cyber cases can impact safe facility operation
IP network hacks and ransomware may not be able to be stopped. That includes cyberattacks against control system vendors who offer “cyber secure systems” and cyber security services. Control system vendors provide systems globally including to China, and some also have design and manufacturing facilities in China. The Johnson Controls and Bently-Nevada cases are not […]
CS2AI podcast on control system cyber security
I did a podcast for CS2AI on control system cyber security. The podcast was to educate people that control systems are composed of process sensors, actuators, drives, controllers, HMIs, networks, and network devices because OT cyber security practitioners have limited the discussion to HMIs, OT networks, and OT network devices. The podcast also discussed the […]
Microsoft Australian East Data Center control system cyber incident – unintentional or malicious?
Data center control system cyber incidents have shut down or damaged data centers operated by many different entities globally. August 30, 2023, a utility voltage sag tripped cooling units at the Microsoft Australia East Azure Data Center. When the voltage sag occurred, all five chillers in operation faulted and didn’t restart because the pumps did […]
Hacking insecure process sensor systems may have affected the Chernobyl nuclear plant site
I am an engineer not a threat analyst. I can tell you what can happen to control systems from cyber vulnerabilities; I cannot tell you why someone would or would not want to exploit these vulnerabilities. My concerns are from a safety perspective as process sensors are used globally to monitor environmental conditions around industrial […]
A Tale of Two Cities water attacks – Oldsmar and Discovery Bay
There have been more than 130 control system cyber incidents in water/wastewater utilities. Like Oldsmar and Discovery Bay, most of these incidents have occurred in small water utilities. Many of these incidents were not publicly disclosed, nor were the utilities required to disclose these incidents. When the Oldsmar water “hack” was publicized, a water system […]