Practical Industrial Control System Penetration Testing from Udemy

Hacking ICS/OT on shodan or in your own company? Better not.

I believe that the best way to learn is with practical experience. ICS/OT Security is a new and important skill for all technicians and engineers working on industrial control systems. There are quite a few open source tools that can be used to investigate the cyber security of industrial control systems, but unfortunately there is no suitable training opportunity.

For learners of IT pentesting, there are plenty of opportunities like HackTheBox or VulnHub, where pentest tools and hacking skills can be tried out. Training platforms with ICS focus either don't exist or come in the form of a boring seminar with over 1000€ participation fee.

In this workshop you will learn important pentest tools from Kali and open source tools and you can try them out in 6 interactive simulations of industrial controllers. Of course the simulations are not perfect, so I will show you the tools and techniques on two real PLCs.

The workshop has a high practical part and encourages you to participate. There are more than 30 exciting tasks waiting for you, with which you can deepen your skills bit by bit.

Important: The pentesting of ICS cannot be compared to the typical pentesting of the IT world. Industrial plants need to be continuously available and hardly any plant operator wants to risk a production stop. Typically, security testing is performed at the lowest or second lowest aggressiveness level. So if you are hoping to pwn your device with buffer overflows, kernel exploits, privilege escalation and root shells, you are in the wrong place.

Are you interested in security analysis of ICS and do you already have basic knowledge of industrial cyber security? Then this is the right place for you.

Are you currently studying for the (CEH) Certified Ethical Hacker? From v12 on knowledge in OT is required. This course offers you a hands-on introduction to understand the typical vulnerabilities of OT hardware.

Curious about safeguarding of ICS/OT devices? Join my course Assessing and Protecting Industrial Control Systems.

Please note that the software used is not mine. I can only offer limited assistance in case of problems. Please contact the publisher of the software for help. The installation instructions were created to the best of my knowledge, but the responsibility for the installation lies with the participants.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Show your pentest skills on 6 interactive industrial controller simulations
Build your own ics pentest platform with open source tools
No exploits, privilege escalation nor root shells

Learn the typical attack surfaces of an ics
Workshop with high practical part with more than 30 tasks

Show your pentest skills on 6 interactive industrial controller simulations
Build your own ics pentest platform with open source tools
No exploits, privilege escalation nor root shells
Learn the typical attack surfaces of an ics
Workshop with high practical part with more than 30 tasks

Syllabus

The Basics

Welcome and Introduction to the Workshop

IT x OT

ICS are easy targets for attackers

Please ensure to download Ubuntu server 22.04

Please ensure typing the command to start honeypots without spaces between the services!
sudo python3 -m honeypots --setup telnet,http,smb,vnc,snmp

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Offers hands-on experience with simulations and real PLCs, which allows learners to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting

Provides a hands-on introduction to OT hardware vulnerabilities, which is helpful for the OT knowledge now required in CEH v12

Focuses on security analysis of ICS and assumes learners already have basic knowledge of industrial cybersecurity, which may exclude beginners

Emphasizes the importance of continuous availability in industrial plants, which is a crucial consideration for anyone working in ICS/OT security

Requires learners to download Ubuntu server 22.04 and set up virtual machines, which may require additional time and technical skills

Does not cover buffer overflows, kernel exploits, privilege escalation, and root shells, which may disappoint learners interested in those topics

Reviews summary

Practical introduction to ics pentesting

According to learners, this course offers a solid practical introduction to Industrial Control System (ICS) penetration testing. Students particularly appreciate the hands-on labs and interactive simulations, finding them valuable for practicing techniques using open-source tools like Shodan and Metasploit in an ICS context. The course is noted for its focus on real-world scenarios and practical application, filling a gap in available training. However, some reviewers noted challenges with lab setup and virtual machine configuration, and a few felt the content could be more structured or explanations less rushed in certain sections. Overall, it's seen as a valuable resource for gaining practical ICS security skills, especially for those new to the field.

Effective use of relevant tools taught.

"I especially appreciated the focus on real-world scenarios and open-source tools I can actually use."

"The coverage of tools like Shodan and Metasploit in the ICS context was very valuable."

"The focus on tools and the hands-on labs are great."

Highly praised hands-on exercises.

"This course is fantastic! The practical simulations are incredibly realistic and the tasks are challenging but manageable. I especially appreciated the focus on real-world scenarios..."

"Good introduction to ICS pentesting. The labs are the highlight. ...the exercises were very insightful. I liked the mix of simulations and the demos on real hardware."

"Excellent hands-on course! The simulation environment is well-designed and allows you to practice the techniques taught."

"Solid practical course. The focus on tools and the hands-on labs are great. The theoretical parts are brief but sufficient to understand the context."

Pace and organization concerns noted.

"The course covers the advertised topics, but I found the explanations a bit rushed in places."

"It's a decent starting point if you have zero knowledge, but someone with a bit more experience might find it too basic in certain areas."

"Disappointed. The lab setup was a nightmare, wasting a lot of time. The course content feels a bit scattered, jumping between tools without a clear progression."

Difficulties encountered during setup.

"Setting up the VMs was a bit tricky, but once that was done, the exercises were very insightful."

"The simulations are okay, but the instructions for setup could be clearer."

"Solid practical course. ... Setup instructions were a bit outdated for my specific setup, but I managed."

"Disappointed. The lab setup was a nightmare, wasting a lot of time."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Practical Industrial Control System Penetration Testing with these activities:

Review IPv4 Addressing and Subnetting

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of IPv4 addressing and subnetting to effectively identify and analyze network configurations within ICS environments.

Browse courses on IPv4 Addressing

Show steps

Review the structure of IPv4 addresses and subnet masks.
Practice subnetting exercises to calculate network and host addresses.
Understand CIDR notation and its relation to subnet masks.

Read 'Practical Industrial Control Systems Security' by Sergio Ferreira

Show steps

Gain a broader understanding of ICS security principles and practices to complement the practical pentesting skills learned in the course.

View Melania on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, focusing on chapters related to risk assessment and security architecture.
Take notes on key concepts and best practices.
Relate the concepts to the pentesting techniques covered in the course.

Practice Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) Scripting

Show steps

Enhance your Nmap skills by writing custom NSE scripts to identify specific vulnerabilities or configurations in ICS devices.

Show steps

Learn the basics of Lua scripting language.
Study existing NSE scripts related to ICS protocols (e.g., Modbus, S7).
Write a simple NSE script to detect a specific ICS service or vulnerability.
Test the script against the ICS simulations in the course.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Document Pentesting Procedures

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of pentesting techniques by creating a detailed guide on how to perform specific tests on ICS devices.

Show steps

Choose a specific pentesting technique covered in the course (e.g., SNMP enumeration, Modbus exploitation).
Document the steps involved in performing the technique, including tools used and commands executed.
Include screenshots and examples to illustrate the process.
Share your guide with other students for feedback.

Read 'Hacking Exposed: Industrial Control Systems' by Clint Bodungen, Bryan Singer, Aaron Shbeeb, Kyle Wilhoit, Stephen Hilt

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of ICS vulnerabilities and attack techniques to improve your pentesting skills and develop effective defense strategies.

View Hacking Exposed Industrial Control Systems: ICS... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, focusing on chapters related to specific ICS protocols and vulnerabilities.
Take notes on key attack techniques and defense strategies.
Relate the concepts to the pentesting techniques covered in the course.

Build a Custom ICS Pentesting VM

Show steps

Create a customized virtual machine with all the necessary tools and configurations for ICS pentesting, streamlining your workflow and improving efficiency.

Show steps

Choose a Linux distribution (e.g., Kali Linux, Parrot OS) as the base for your VM.
Install all the necessary pentesting tools, including Nmap, Metasploit, and specialized ICS tools (e.g., Modbus client, S7 client).
Configure the VM with the necessary network settings and security configurations.
Document the steps involved in building the VM for future reference.

Contribute to an Open-Source ICS Security Project

Show steps

Enhance your skills and contribute to the ICS security community by participating in an open-source project related to ICS pentesting or vulnerability analysis.

Show steps

Identify an open-source ICS security project that aligns with your interests and skills.
Review the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
Contribute code, documentation, or bug reports to the project.
Participate in the project's community discussions.

Career center

Learners who complete Practical Industrial Control System Penetration Testing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

SCADA Security Specialist

A SCADA security specialist focuses on protecting Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems from cyberattacks. This course, with its blend of pentesting methodologies and practical simulations, can provide targeted knowledge on how to test and secure SCADA environments. By learning about the specific vulnerabilities in ICS, especially SCADA, you can become better able to identify and mitigate risks in these vital systems. The hands-on exercises offer direct experience in using security tools within SCADA contexts.

See salaries and explore the career path for SCADA Security Specialist

Industrial Control Systems Security Analyst

As an industrial control systems security analyst, you'll be on the front lines, protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats. This course, with its focus on practical pentesting of ICS, builds a foundation for understanding attack surfaces and common vulnerabilities. The simulations of industrial controllers within this course can help you develop hands-on skills in identifying and mitigating risks in OT environments. You'll gain experience with tools like Nmap and Metasploit, which are essential for reconnaissance and vulnerability assessment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Control Systems Security Analyst

ICS Security Manager

An ICS security manager is responsible for overseeing the security of industrial control systems within an organization. This course arms managers with the insights needed to understand and address the unique security challenges of OT environments. The focus on pentesting methodologies and practical simulations can better inform strategic security decisions. By understanding attack surfaces and common vulnerabilities, managers can better protect their ICS systems and comply with relevant security standards.

See salaries and explore the career path for ICS Security Manager

Penetration Tester

A penetration tester identifies vulnerabilities in systems before malicious actors can exploit them. This course focuses on industrial control systems, a specialized area of pentesting requiring a unique understanding of operational technology. While traditional IT pentesting emphasizes exploits, this course focuses on lower aggressiveness levels suitable for ICS environments, prioritizing system availability. The course's hands-on simulations and exploration of tools like Nmap and Metasploit provide practical experience for identifying and assessing ICS vulnerabilities. This can help you begin a career as a penetration tester.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

ICS Security Auditor

ICS security auditors assess the security posture of industrial control systems and ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations. This course may be helpful for learning how to evaluate the security of ICS environments. The insights into pentesting methodologies and common vulnerabilities can improve the effectiveness of security audits. The course's simulations provide a practical understanding of the challenges and considerations involved in securing ICS.

See salaries and explore the career path for ICS Security Auditor

Industrial Cybersecurity Consultant

Industrial cybersecurity consultants advise organizations on how to protect their industrial control systems from cyber threats. This course may be helpful for enhancing a consultant's knowledge of ICS vulnerabilities and pentesting techniques. The practical simulations and hands-on exercises can help you provide more effective guidance to clients seeking to secure their OT environments. By understanding the security goals of IT and OT, you can better help your clients protect their ICS environments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Cybersecurity Consultant

OT Security Engineer

An OT security engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining security measures for operational technology systems. This course may be useful for those wanting to understand the cyber risks facing ICS environments. With its focus on pentesting methodologies and exposure to tools used for vulnerability assessment, it provides insights into how attackers might target these systems. The simulations of industrial controllers within the course allows you to understand attack surfaces and learn how to defend against threats to ICS.

See salaries and explore the career path for OT Security Engineer

Vulnerability Assessor

Vulnerability assessors identify and analyze weaknesses in systems and applications. This course may be especially helpful for learning how to find such weaknesses in industrial control systems. The course emphasizes identifying attack surfaces and using tools like Nmap, Metasploit, and open-source utilities to find potential vulnerabilities. The simulations of industrial controllers can help you hone skills in vulnerability identification and analysis, which are critical for a vulnerability assessor.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vulnerability Assessor

Security Consultant

A security consultant advises organizations on how to improve their security posture. This course's emphasis on ICS pentesting provides valuable insights into the specific challenges and vulnerabilities facing industrial environments. The practical exercises and simulations can help you better understand the attack vectors and mitigation strategies relevant to OT security. By understanding the unique security goals of IT and OT, you can better help your clients protect their ICS environments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity analysts monitor and analyze security events to identify and respond to threats. This course may be helpful for developing skills in analyzing security vulnerabilities within industrial control systems. The insights into ICS attack surfaces and pentesting techniques can improve threat detection and incident response capabilities in OT environments. Through the course's simulations, you gain hands-on experience in identifying and responding to potential security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst

Security Architect

Security architects design and implement security solutions for organizations. This course may be useful for building a strong foundation in ICS security principles and practices. The insights into common vulnerabilities and pentesting techniques can inform the design of more resilient and secure industrial control systems. The course's simulations can help you understand the practical implications of different security architectures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Network Security Engineer

As a network security engineer, you safeguard an organization's network infrastructure from cyber threats. This course may be useful for developing specific expertise in securing industrial control system networks. The course will emphasize the unique challenges of OT networking and provides insights into how to harden these environments against attack. The simulations of ICS networks can help you understand the practical aspects of securing these critical systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Embedded Systems Security Engineer

An embedded systems security engineer focuses on securing the hardware and software components embedded within industrial control systems. This course may be useful for understanding the attack surfaces and vulnerabilities specific to embedded systems within ICS environments. The pentesting techniques and hands-on simulations can help you develop skills in identifying and mitigating security risks in these critical components. This will set you apart as an authority on industrial embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Security Engineer

SCADA System Engineer

SCADA system engineers design, implement, and maintain Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems. While this course focuses on pentesting, it may be useful for those wanting a deeper understanding of the cybersecurity aspects of SCADA. By learning about common vulnerabilities and attack vectors, you can design and maintain more secure SCADA systems. The course's blend of theoretical knowledge and practical exercises provides a solid foundation for those seeking to integrate security into their SCADA engineering practices.

See salaries and explore the career path for SCADA System Engineer

SCADA Operator

SCADA operators monitor and control industrial processes using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems. While this course centers on pentesting, it may be useful for understanding potential cyber threats to SCADA systems. Learning about common vulnerabilities and attack methods helps operators recognize and respond to security incidents more effectively. Understanding the security goals of IT and OT can assist in maintaining the integrity and reliability of SCADA operations.

See salaries and explore the career path for SCADA Operator

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Practical Industrial Control System Penetration Testing.

Hacking Exposed Industrial Control Systems: ICS and...

Save

Provides in-depth coverage of ICS vulnerabilities and attack techniques. It explores real-world case studies and provides practical guidance on how to protect ICS environments. It valuable resource for understanding the attacker's perspective and developing effective defense strategies. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference.

Hacking Exposed Industrial Control Systems: ICS and...

Kindle Edition

Practical Industrial Control System Penetration Testing

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical introduction to ics pentesting

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses