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The SANS Institute’s White Paper on the Five ICS Cybersecurity Critical Controls (by Robert M. Lee and Tim Conway) remains a cornerstone resource for securing Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT). The framework emphasizes outcome-focused, risk-based strategies rooted in real-world incidents.
The Five Critical Controls:
1. ICS Incident Response – Scenario-driven, not checklist-based.
- Defensible Architecture – Focus on resilience, not just segmentation.
- Network Visibility & Monitoring – Protocol-aware and physics-aware.
- Secure Remote Access – MFA, choke-points, and break-inspect strategies.
- Risk-Based Vulnerability Management – Prioritize real risk over CVEs.
You Should Know:
1. ICS Incident Response
- Practice: Use `log2timeline` (Plaso) for ICS forensic timeline analysis:
log2timeline.py --storage-file timeline.plaso /path/to/evidence
- Command: Monitor ICS logs with `journalctl` (Linux):
journalctl -u modbus.service --no-pager -f
2. Defensible Architecture
- Tool: Implement Unidirectional Gateways (Data Diodes) to enforce one-way traffic.
- Command: Check Linux firewall rules (
iptables
):iptables -L -n -v | grep DROP
3. Network Visibility & Monitoring
- Tool: Use Wireshark with ICS protocol dissectors (MODBUS, DNP3):
wireshark -k -i eth0 -Y "modbus || dnp3"
- Command: Detect anomalies with `snort` (ICS rules):
snort -c /etc/snort/snort.conf -A console -q
4. Secure Remote Access
- Practice: Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for SSH:
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config Add: AuthenticationMethods publickey,keyboard-interactive
- Tool: Use Guacamole for secure web-based access.
5. Risk-Based Vulnerability Management
- Command: Scan for ICS vulnerabilities with
nmap
:nmap -sV --script vulners <target>
- Tool: OpenVAS for ICS-specific risk assessment.
What Undercode Say:
- “Defensible > Secure”: Harden ICS systems with `chroot` jails:
chroot /secure_path /bin/bash
- Monitor PLCs using `pcp` (Performance Co-Pilot):
pminfo -f modbus.registers.read
- Windows ICS Security: Disable SMBv1:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol
- Log Aggregation: Forward ICS logs via
rsyslog
:sudo nano /etc/rsyslog.conf Add: . @<log-server>:514
Expected Output: A resilient ICS environment with continuous monitoring, secure access, and actionable incident response.
Reference: SANS ICS Critical Controls
References:
Reported By: Ashok Kumar – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅