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Alert


EXPLOITATION OF UNITRONICS PLCS USED IN WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS

Release Date
November 28, 2023
Related topics:
Cybersecurity Best Practices


CISA is responding to active exploitation(link is external) of Unitronics
programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used in the Water and Wastewater Systems
(WWS) Sector. Cyber threat actors are targeting PLCs associated with WWS
facilities, including an identified Unitronics PLC, at a U.S. water facility. In
response, the affected municipality’s water authority immediately took the
system offline and switched to manual operations—there is no known risk to the
municipality’s drinking water or water supply.

WWS Sector facilities use PLCs to control and monitor various stages and
processes of water and wastewater treatment, including turning on and off pumps
at a pump station to fill tanks and reservoirs, flow pacing chemicals to meet
regulations, gathering compliance data for monthly regulation reports, and
announcing critical alarms to operations. 

Attempts to compromise WWS integrity via unauthorized access threaten the
ability of WWS facilities to provide clean, potable water to, and effectively
manage the wastewater of, their communities.

The cyber threat actors likely accessed the affected device—a Unitronics Vision
Series PLC with a Human Machine Interface (HMI)—by exploiting cybersecurity
weaknesses, including poor password security and exposure to the internet. To
secure WWS facilities against this threat, CISA urges organizations to:

 * Change all default passwords on PLCs and HMIs and use a strong password.
   Ensure the Unitronics PLC default password “1111” is not in use. 
 * Require multifactor authentication for all remote access to the OT network,
   including from the IT network and external networks.

 * Disconnect the PLC from the open internet. If remote access is necessary,
   control network access to the PLC.   
   
   * Implement a Firewall/VPN in front of the PLC to control network access to
     the remote PLC. A VPN or gateway device can enable multifactor
     authentication for remote access even if the PLC does not support
     multifactor authentication. Unitronics also has a secure cellular based
     longhaul transport device that is secure to their cloud services. 
   
   * Use an allowlist of IPs for access. 
 * Back up the logic and configurations on any Unitronics PLCs to enable fast
   recovery. Become familiar with the process for factory resetting and
   deploying configurations to a device in the event of being hit by ransomware.
 * If possible, utilize a TCP port that is different than the default port TCP
   20256. Cyber actors are actively targeting TCP 20256 after identifying it
   through network probing as a port associated to Unitronics PLC. Once
   identified, they leverage scripts specific to PCOM/TCP to query and validate
   the system, allowing for further probing and connection. If available, use
   PCOM/TCP filters to parse out the packets.
 * Update PLC/HMI to the latest version provided by Unitronics.

CISA and WWS Sector partners have developed numerous tools and resources that
water utilities can use to increase their cybersecurity. Please visit:

 * CISA: Water and Wastewater Cybersecurity
 * EPA: Cybersecurity for the Water Sector
 * WaterISAC: Resource Center(link is external)
 * American Water Works Association: Cybersecurity and Guidance(link is
   external)


REPORT

All organizations should report suspicious or criminal activity related to
information found in this Alert by contacting CISA’s 24/7 Operations Center
at report@cisa.gov(link sends email) or (888) 282-0870, or your local FBI field
office. 

This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy &
Use policy.


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Dec 01, 2023
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CISA AND PARTNERS RELEASE JOINT ADVISORY ON IRGC-AFFILIATED CYBER ACTORS
EXPLOITING PLCS

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