Scada hacker provides visitors with a comprehensive collection of securityrelated resources including tools commonly used to secure and test ics architectures, information on the latest threats, vulnerabilities, and exploits that exist for ics architectures, and a comprehensive library of the latest in standards, best practices, guidelines. Nercs electronic security perimeter is swiss cheese if you have been following scada news in the last month, you might have noticed an avalanche of reports and blogs on new security vulnerabilities in power industry equipment. The standard the latest version of the standard, ieee std 1815 tm 2012, was released oct. Pdf securing dnp3 broadcast communications in scada. Too many engineers are searching for ways to make themselves feel better because there is a fence andor a locked building keeping the bad guys out. Dnp3 secure authentication the scada data gateway supports secure authentication as defined in the ieee 18152012 sav5 and ieee 18152010 sav2. The kepserverex communications platform is used for industry and thirdparty connectivity communication software for automation, both opc and embedded device communications.
The vulnerabilities in dnp3 masters dont even require that the attacker climb a fence. Manipulating plcs running on such protocols is trivial, and upgrading to newerprotocols like secure dnp3 often requires you to replace components, which can be costly. Distributed network protocol version 3 dnp3 is an open and optimized protocol developed. Jun 04, 2014 a scada vulnerability could trigger a denial of service condition and go on to compromise the softwares communication connections, resulting in system instability is left unpatched. Dnp3 implementation vulnerability update b cisa uscert. The dnp users group is a california nonprofit mutual benefit corporation, operating pursuant to united states irs code 501c6. Cyber criminals are after those exact glitches, the little security holes in the vulnerable software you use that can be exploited for malicious purposes. Protocols used in this communication link are dnp3 distributed network protocol version 3. Manipulating plcs running on such protocols is trivial, and upgrading to. This paper highlights different security threats and vulnerabilities that is being challenged in smartgrid utilizing distributed network protocol dnp3 as a real time communication protocol.
Dnp3 security security although the protocol was designed to be very reliable, it was not designed to be secure from attacks by hackers and other malevolent forces that could. Dnp3 security security although the protocol was designed to be very reliable, it was not designed to be secure from attacks by hackers and other malevolent forces that could potentially wish to disrupt control systems to disable critical infrastructure. Design and implementation of a secure modbus protocol. Deploying secure dnp3 ieee 1815 what you need to know. Implementation of secure dnp3 architecture of scada system. His focus is on research and development in the cybersecurity and control systems space. Unlike other dnp3 to opc interfaces, the matrikon opc server for dnp3 can grant and deny access to tags based on user login. The dnp users group supports our user community and the industry by enhancing and promoting the distributed network protocol.
Typically that weakness is a software flaw in an application that can be exploited to compromise the integrity of a host system and unleash a. As seen in recently published vulnerabilities cve202793, cve202794, cve20142342, and cve20142343, software vulnerabilities can occur in protocol gateway products. Industrial networks facilitate the free flow of messages that could allow poison packets to be. The dnp3 ethernet and serial drivers include secure authentication. The affected product is a microsoft windowsbased software that facilitates connectivity to multiple dnp3 compliant devices such as hmi, rtu, plc and meters. Tls encryption is also supported in the test harness by following the defined cipher suites, algorithms, and connection duration defined by iec 6235. In addition, our blog archive includes articles on dnp3related vulnerabilities released in 20. This makes it impractical to replace all of the dnp3 devices with embedded security. Copadata patches dnp3 scada vulnerability threatpost. The project was able to formally analyse the protocol using colored petri nets and vulnerabilities were found in several components of the protocol. It is common for software and application developers to use vulnerability scanning software to detect and remedy application vulnerabilities in code, but this method is not entirely secure and can be costly and difficult to use. Software is imperfect, just like the people who make it.
A vulnerability with one or more known instances of working and fully implemented attacks is classified as an exploitable vulnerabilitya vulnerability for which an exploit exists. This research will focus on distributed network protocol dnp3 communication which is used in the smart grid to communicate between the controller devices. Hackers can easily create exploits that target the underlying software vulnerabilities to infect and propagate their worms. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of incoming packets. He developed the modbustcp, opc, ethernetip modules and directed the development of the dnp3, and iec608705104 deep packet inspection modules for tofino security products. Dnp3 secure authentication is based on the iec 623515 security standard. A scada vulnerability could trigger a denial of service condition and go on to compromise the softwares communication connections, resulting in system instability is left.
Dnp3 authority central application across multiple dnp3 networks interfaces to dnp3 masters adds, removes, and updates users sends user keyscertificates to remote devices via master dnp3 masters dnp3 authority dnp3 outstations dnp3 secure authentication keys certificates keys certificates outstation authenticates authority enables. Smart grid dnp3 vulnerability analysis and experimentation. A vulnerability in dnp3 driver software used by ioserver could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service dos condition on a targeted system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted tcp packets to the system. Furthermore, scanning software quickly becomes outdated and inaccurate, which only poses more issues for developers.
It will protect against a broad spectrum of known and unknown vulnerabilities in dnp3 systems. There have been many guidelines laid down for securing scada systems from. Dnp3 suite opc server kepware kepware software for. In this blog, well be covering strategies for implementing specific aspects of software assurance swathe practice of avoiding and reducing software flawsand how it. Implementation of secure dnp3 architecture of scada system for.
The researchers emphasize that the vulnerability is not with the dnp3 stack but with the implementation. A scada vulnerability could trigger a denial of service condition and go on to compromise the software s communication connections, resulting in system instability is left unpatched. The dnp3 suite allows you to automatically connect, control, and manage devices locally or from remote substations. Once the data is decrypted, it will reconverted into dnp3 packets. Dnp3 ethernet module for controllogix prosoft technology inc. It is a powerful tool that enables secure access to your control and automation systems and opens new connectivity horizons to other parties. Because smart grid applications generally assume access by third parties to the same physical networks and underlying ip infrastructure of the grid, much work has been done to add secure authentication features to the dnp3 protocol. No matter how much work goes into a new version of software, it will still be fallible. Distributed network protocol version 3 dnp3 security framework abstract. His areas of expertise include industrial protocol analysis, network security, and secure software development. With stuxnet serving as a backdrop, its clear that. An attacker could cause the software to go into an infinite loop with a specifically. Consultant for mandiant, reported an improper input validation vulnerability to icscert that was evident in numerous slave andor master.
What are software vulnerabilities, and why are there so many. Distributed network protocol version 3 dnp3 is an open and optimized protocol developed for the supervisory control and data acquisition scada systems supporting the utilities industries. With stuxnet serving as a backdrop, its clear that industrial control systems ics are firmly in the crosshairs. Ultra electronics, 3eti introduces first cyber security. When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as virtual private. Dnp3 secure authentication triangle microworks inc. An unintended flaw in software code or a system that leaves it open to the potential for exploitation in the form of unauthorized access or malicious behavior such as viruses, worms. Also referred to as security exploits, security vulnerabilities can result from software bugs, weak passwords or software thats already been infected by a computer virus or script code injection, and these security vulnerabilities require patches, or fixes, in order to prevent the potential for compromised integrity by hackers or malware. Countermeasures for these vulnerabilities are deployment of firewalls, intrusion detection. This research will focus on distributed network protocol dnp3 communication which is used. It is a protocol used extensively in north american substations, oil and. Mechanisms to secure broadcast mode of the protocol were proposed and a dataset containing attack examples on a dnp3 system was developed. However, 20 to 30 yearold protocols like modbus and dnp3 still exist and thrive in scada networks.
Scada hacker provides visitors with a comprehensive collection of securityrelated resources including tools commonly used to secure and test ics architectures, information on the latest. May 23, 2017 scientific american is the essential guide to the most aweinspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives. Typically that weakness is a software flaw in an application that can be exploited to compromise the integrity of a host system and unleash a cyberattack within a company. Finally, some researchers enjoy the intellectual challenge of finding vulnerabilities in software, and in turn, relish disclosing their. In computer security, a vulnerability is a weakness which can be exploited by a threat actor, such as an attacker, to perform unauthorized actions within a computer system. The distributed network protocol version 3 dnp3 provides secure authentication dnp3sa as the mechanism to authenticate unicast messages from a master station to its outstations in. Scada cyber security for critical infrastructure protection. Pdf smart grid dnp3 vulnerability analysis and experimentation. The dnp3 ethernet and serial drivers include secure authentication, additional data sets specific to the water industry, and the ability to manage distributed device assets and their attributes. It is common for software and application developers to use vulnerability scanning software to detect and remedy application vulnerabilities in code, but this method is not entirely secure and. Pdf securing dnp3 broadcast communications in scada systems. Pdf this paper highlights different security threats and vulnerabilities that is being challenged in smartgrid utilizing distributed network. To learn more about dnp3 secure authentication, watch our dnp3 sa training videos on our website. Vulnerabilities in these components lie in policy, procedure, platform and.
Challenges and research directions for heterogeneous cyber. Dnp3 secure authentication dnp3sa is a separate protocol. Reducing software vulnerabilities to boost cybersecurity. If there is a software or firmware patch or hardware upgrade thats out there that fixes a known dnp3 vulnerabilitygo get it properly test it before you roll it out if youre not. Mar 29, 2012 however, 20 to 30 yearold protocols like modbus and dnp3 still exist and thrive in scada networks. Because smart grid applications generally assume access by third parties to the same physical networks and underlying ip infrastructure of the grid, much work has been done to add. Introduction information and communications technology ict systems are prone to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by. The module supports operation as an ethernet client with up to 40 dnp3 ethernet server devices such as rtus, ieds, and various protection relays. Consultant for mandiant, reported an improper input validation vulnerability to icscert that was evident in numerous slave andor master station software products. Dnp3 was designed originally without secure authentication. Jan 23, 2015 however, 20 to 30 yearold protocols like modbus and dnp3 still exist and thrive in scada networks.
What are software vulnerabilities, and why are there so. Introduction information and communications technology ict systems are prone to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious software and agents. Ioserver dnp3 improper input validation vulnerability. There are numerous vulnerabilities in the java platform, all of which can be exploited in different ways, but most commonly through getting individuals to download plug. It is a protocol used extensively in north american substations, oil and gas pipelines, water and wastewater treatment, and transportation infrastructure. Tls encryption is also supported by following the defined cipher suites, algorithms, and connection duration defined by iec 6235. Network protocol secure authentication dnp3saand explains how. College of computing and software engineering college at kennesaw. These vulnerabilities and exploits affect systems called scada, for supervisory control and data acquisition. The vulnerability is due to improper handling of tcp packets by the affected software. A vulnerability in the distributed network protocol 3. Dnp3 vulnerabilities part 1 of 2 nercs electronic security perimeter is swiss cheese submitted by eric byres on thu, 201107.
Vulnerabilities in these components lie in policy, procedure, platform and protocols used. With support for 300 user definable commands and a maximum of up to 20,000 points of data, the module can be used to obtain data from a network of devices over a dnp3 ethernet link. May 21, 2015 software is imperfect, just like the people who make it. We present the dnp3 sav5 and design a secure architecture with public key. Dnp3 protocol analysis scada cyber security laboratory. The first place that most people have started talking about these dnp3 devices is a substation. Mar 24, 2011 the second was the public disclosure of 34 vulnerabilities with proofofconcept exploit code by a security researcher.
The window of vulnerability is the time from when the security hole was introduced or manifested in deployed software, to when access was removed, a security fix. Addresses the vulnerabilities that were identified. The dnp3 opc sopc server provides connectivity to all distributed network protocol dnp3 or ieee standard 1815 compliant devices such as rtus, ieds intelligent electronic device, plcs. Oct 01, 2018 every substation is controlled by a supervisory control and data acquisition scada system which communicates on dnp3 protocol on internetip which has many security vulnerabilities. The distributed network protocol version 3 dnp3 provides secure authentication dnp3 sa as the mechanism to authenticate unicast messages from a master station to its outstations in scada systems. Nercs electronic security perimeter is swiss cheese if you have been following scada news in the last month, you might have noticed an. The second was the public disclosure of 34 vulnerabilities with proofofconcept exploit code by a security researcher. Every substation is controlled by a supervisory control and data acquisition scada system which communicates on dnp3 protocol on internetip which has many. Implementation of secure dnp3 architecture of scada.
262 295 408 634 951 1093 777 191 881 40 909 472 686 1177 1359 574 388 675 1303 364 1189 425 893 935 443 1021 386 1224 1459 1228 1434 852 182 38 903 555 408 699 604 1041 361 1422