Adversaries may send unauthorized messages to ICS systems and devices to evade defenses or manipulate processes. Unauthorized messages can be categorized as either reporting messages that contain telemetry data about the current state of systems, devices, and processes or as command messages which instruct systems and devices on how to operate. By injecting unauthorized messages, adversaries can make it appear as if everything is working correctly when it isn’t, trigger alarms to misdirect personnel or impact processes, and manipulate controls to disrupt processes.(Citation: Bonnie Zhu, Anthony Joseph, Shankar Sastry 2011) Adversaries may send unauthorized messages in an ICS environment using software found within the environment (living-off-the-land, vendor-specific interfaces, etc.), custom tooling leveraging OT protocols and libraries, or by positioning themselves between systems and devices and injecting messages into the communications such as the case with an [Adversary-in-the-Middle](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T0830) attack.

Subissues

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Bezeichnung Beschreibung
Command Message Adversaries may send unauthorized command messages to instruct control system assets to perform actions outside of their intended functionality, or without the logical preconditions to trigger their expected function. Command messages are used in ICS networks to give direct instructions to control systems devices. If an adversary can send an unauthorized command message to a control system, then it can instruct the control systems device to perform an action outside the normal bounds of the device's actions. An adversary could potentially instruct a control systems device to perform an action that will cause an [Impact](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0105).(Citation: Bonnie Zhu, Anthony Joseph, Shankar Sastry 2011) In the Dallas Siren incident, adversaries were able to send command messages to activate tornado alarm systems across the city without an impending tornado or other disaster.(Citation: Zack Whittaker April 2017)(Citation: Benjamin Freed March 2019)
Reporting Message Adversaries may spoof reporting messages in control system environments for evasion and to impair process control. In control systems, reporting messages contain telemetry data (e.g., I/O values) pertaining to the current state of equipment and the industrial process. Reporting messages are important for monitoring the normal operation of a system or identifying important events such as deviations from expected values. If an adversary has the ability to Spoof Reporting Messages, they can impact the control system in many ways. The adversary can Spoof Reporting Messages that state that the process is operating normally, as a form of evasion. The adversary could also Spoof Reporting Messages to make the defenders and operators think that other errors are occurring in order to distract them from the actual source of a problem.(Citation: Bonnie Zhu, Anthony Joseph, Shankar Sastry 2011)

Linked Issues

Issuelinks
Linktyp Issue
is related to Techniques
is related to Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
is related to Control Server
is related to Distributed Control System (DCS) Controller
is related to Intelligent Electronic Device (IED)
is related to Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
is related to Safety Controller
is related to Programmable Automation Controller (PAC)
is related to Remote Terminal Unit (RTU)
is part of Impair Process Control
is blocked by Detection of Unauthorized Message
is blocked by Software Process and Device Authentication
is blocked by Network Allowlists
is blocked by Network Segmentation
is blocked by Communication Authenticity
is blocked by Filter Network Traffic
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