Walking under the ladder logic: PLC-VBS:a PLC control logic vulnerability scanning tool

Maesschalck, Sam and Staves, Alexander and Derbyshire, Richard and Green, Benjamin and Hutchison, David (2023) Walking under the ladder logic: PLC-VBS:a PLC control logic vulnerability scanning tool. Computers and Security, 127. ISSN 0167-4048

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Cyber security risk assessments provide a crucial starting point towards the understanding of existing risk exposure, via which suitable mitigation strategies can be formed. Risk is viewed as a product of threat, vulnerability and impact, and equal understanding of each of these elements is vitally important. This can be a challenge in Industrial Control System (ICS) environments, where adopted technologies are typically not only bespoke, but interact directly with the physical world. To date, existing vulnerability identification has focused on traditional vulnerability categories. While this approach provides risk assessors with a baseline understanding and the ability to hypothesize about potential resulting impacts, it is rather high level, operating at a level of abstraction that would be viewed as incomplete within a traditional information system context. The work presented in this paper takes the understanding of ICS device vulnerabilities a step deeper. It offers a tool, PLC-VBS, that helps identify Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) vulnerabilities, specifically within logic used to monitor, control, and automate operational processes. PLC-VBS gives risk assessors a more coherent picture about the potential impact should the identified vulnerabilities be exploited; this applies specifically to operational process elements.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Computers and Security
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1700
Subjects:
?? ICSSCADAPLCCYBER SECURITYPLC VULNERABILITY SCANNERPLC PROGRAMMING PRACTICESNOLAWCOMPUTER SCIENCE(ALL) ??
ID Code:
185381
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
07 Feb 2023 11:45
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
17 Sep 2023 03:23