Intro to Penetration Testing for OT/ICS Environments

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If you’re serious about OT security, add this to your learning list!
Course URL: https://lnkd.in/e_kdzciP

This course by Mike Holcomb provides a solid foundation for ethically and safely testing Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) environments. It covers:
– Part 1-2: Groundwork and mindset for OT/ICS testing
– Part 3: Comparison with traditional IT pentesting
– Part 4: Dedicated OT/ICS Pentesting Framework
– Part 5-6: Recon, OSINT, and discovering ICS assets
– Part 7-8: Targeted attacks and operational impacts
– Part 9: Writing reports for engineers & executives
– Part 10: Review questions and key takeaways

You Should Know:

Essential OT/ICS Pentesting Commands & Tools

1. Network Scanning (Nmap for ICS Protocols)

nmap -Pn -sT --script modbus-discover.nse -p 502 <target_IP>

Modbus is common in ICS; this detects Modbus TCP devices.

2. PLC Enumeration (PLCScan)

python plcscan.py -i <target_IP> -p 102

Identifies Siemens S7 PLCs using port 102 (S7comm).

3. ICS Protocol Fuzzing (Peach Fuzzer)

peach -p ICS_Modbus.xml -a tcp://<target_IP>:502

Tests for vulnerabilities in Modbus implementations.

4. OSINT for ICS (Shodan Search)

shodan search port:502 "Modbus"

Finds exposed Modbus devices globally.

5. Exploiting ICS Vulnerabilities (Metasploit Modules)

use auxiliary/scanner/scada/modbusdetect 
set RHOSTS <target_IP> 
run 

Checks for Modbus accessibility.

6. Traffic Analysis (Wireshark Filters for ICS)

tcp.port == 502 || udp.port == 47808

Filters for Modbus (502) and BACnet (47808) traffic.

7. Password Cracking (Hydra for ICS HMIs)

hydra -l admin -P passwords.txt <target_IP> http-post-form "/login.php:user=^USER^&pass=^PASS^:Invalid"

Tests weak credentials on Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs).

8. Windows ICS Exploits (Mimikatz for Credential Dumping)

Invoke-Mimikatz -Command '"sekurlsa::logonpasswords"'

Extracts credentials from Windows-based ICS workstations.

9. ICS Firewall Bypass (ICMP Tunneling)

sudo ptunnel -p <proxy_IP> -lp 1080 -da <target_IP> -dp 502

Bypasses restrictive firewalls using ICMP.

10. Reporting with Dradis

dradis-pro -b <IP> -p 3000

Organizes findings for executive/engineer reports.

What Undercode Say:

OT/ICS pentesting requires specialized tools and caution to avoid disrupting critical operations. Always:
– Obtain explicit authorization before testing.
– Use isolated lab environments for practice.
– Monitor network impact (e.g., latency spikes).
– Prioritize safety over exploitation—unplanned downtime can be catastrophic.

Key Linux/Windows Commands for ICS Security:

– `snmpwalk -v2c -c public ` (SNMP enumeration)
– `profinet-discovery -i eth0` (Profinet device detection)
– `python CVE-2015-5374.py ` (Siemens S7 DOS exploit)
– `iec104_client -i ` (IEC 60870-5-104 client test)

Expected Output:

A structured OT/ICS pentest report with:

1. Asset inventory (IPs, protocols, firmware versions).

2. Vulnerability mappings (CVEs, custom flaws).

3. Risk ratings (impact on physical processes).

4. Mitigation steps (patch management, segmentation).

Reference: https://lnkd.in/e_kdzciP

References:

Reported By: Mavrik51 Ics – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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