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Communication Authenticity
When communicating over an untrusted network, utilize secure network protocols that both authenticate the message sender and can verify its integrity. This can be done either through message authentication codes (MACs) or digital signatures, to detect spoofed network messages and unauthorized connections.
Techniques Addressed by Mitigation
| Domain | ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICS | T0800 | Activate Firmware Update Mode | Protocols used for device management should authenticate all network messages to prevent unauthorized system changes. | |
| ICS | T0830 | Adversary-in-the-Middle | Communication authenticity will ensure that any messages tampered with through AiTM can be detected, but cannot prevent eavesdropping on these. In addition, providing communication authenticity around various discovery protocols, such as DNS, can be used to prevent various AiTM procedures. | |
| ICS | T0858 | Change Operating Mode | Protocols used for device management should authenticate all network messages to prevent unauthorized system changes. | |
| ICS | T0868 | Detect Operating Mode | Protocols used for control functions should provide authenticity through MAC functions or digital signatures. If not, utilize bump-in-the-wire devices or VPNs to enforce communication authenticity between devices that are not capable of supporting this (e.g., legacy controllers, RTUs). | |
| ICS | T0816 | Device Restart/Shutdown | Protocols used for control functions should provide authenticity through MAC functions or digital signatures. If not, utilize bump-in-the-wire devices or VPNs to enforce communication authenticity between devices that are not capable of supporting this (e.g., legacy controllers, RTUs). | |
| ICS | T0831 | Manipulation of Control | Protocols used for control functions should provide authenticity through MAC functions or digital signatures. If not, utilize bump-in-the-wire devices or VPNs to enforce communication authenticity between devices that are not capable of supporting this (e.g., legacy controllers, RTUs). | |
| ICS | T0832 | Manipulation of View | Protocols used for control functions should provide authenticity through MAC functions or digital signatures. If not, utilize bump-in-the-wire devices or VPNs to enforce communication authenticity between devices that are not capable of supporting this (e.g., legacy controllers, RTUs). | |
| ICS | T0839 | Module Firmware | Protocols used for device management should authenticate all network messages to prevent unauthorized system changes. | |
| ICS | T0861 | Point & Tag Identification | Protocols used for control functions should provide authenticity through MAC functions or digital signatures. If not, utilize bump-in-the-wire devices or VPNs to enforce communication authenticity between devices that are not capable of supporting this (e.g., legacy controllers, RTUs). | |
| ICS | T0843 | Program Download | Protocols used for device management should authenticate all network messages to prevent unauthorized system changes. | |
| ICS | T0845 | Program Upload | Protocols used for device management should authenticate all network messages to prevent unauthorized system changes. | |
| ICS | T0848 | Rogue Master | Protocols used for control functions should provide authenticity through MAC functions or digital signatures. If not, utilize bump-in-the-wire devices or VPNs to enforce communication authenticity between devices that are not capable of supporting this (e.g., legacy controllers, RTUs). | |
| ICS | T0856 | Spoof Reporting Message | Protocols used for control functions should provide authenticity through MAC functions or digital signatures. If not, utilize bump-in-the-wire devices or VPNs to enforce communication authenticity between devices that are not capable of supporting this (e.g., legacy controllers, RTUs). | |
| ICS | T0857 | System Firmware | Protocols used for device management should authenticate all network messages to prevent unauthorized system changes. | |
| ICS | T0855 | Unauthorized Command Message | Protocols used for control functions should provide authenticity through MAC functions or digital signatures. If not, utilize bump-in-the-wire devices or VPNs to enforce communication authenticity between devices that are not capable of supporting this (e.g., legacy controllers, RTUs). | |
| ICS | T0860 | Wireless Compromise | Do not inherently rely on the authenticity provided by the network/link layer (e.g., 802.11, LTE, 802.15.4), as link layer equipment may have long lifespans and protocol vulnerabilities may not be easily patched. Provide defense-in-depth by implementing authenticity within the associated application-layer protocol, or through a network-layer VPN.[1] Furthermore, ensure communication schemes provide strong replay protection, employing techniques such as timestamps or cryptographic nonces. | |