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performing-s7comm-protocol-security-analysis

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Perform security analysis of Siemens S7comm and S7CommPlus protocols used by SIMATIC S7 PLCs to identify vulnerabilities including replay attacks, integrity bypass, unauthorized CPU stop commands, and program download manipulation exploiting weaknesses in S7-300, S7-400, S7-1200, and S7-1500 controllers.

Securityot-securityicss7commsiemensplc-securityprotocol-analysisscadavulnerability-assessmentscripts

What this skill does


# Performing S7comm Protocol Security Analysis

## When to Use

- When assessing the security posture of Siemens SIMATIC S7 PLC environments
- When building detection rules for S7comm-based attacks against S7-300/400/1200/1500 controllers
- When performing a security audit of Siemens Step 7/TIA Portal communications
- When investigating suspected unauthorized access to Siemens PLC programs
- When evaluating S7CommPlus integrity mechanisms and their bypass potential

**Do not use** for scanning production Siemens PLCs without authorization and a test plan (this can crash controllers), for non-Siemens protocol analysis (see detecting-modbus-command-injection-attacks for Modbus), or for modifying PLC programs in a production environment.

## Prerequisites

- Network access to the S7comm communication segment (TCP port 102)
- Wireshark with S7comm dissector or Zeek with S7comm protocol analyzer
- Authorized access for security testing (never scan production PLCs without authorization)
- Knowledge of the Siemens PLC models and firmware versions in scope
- Understanding of S7comm protocol structure (COTP, S7 PDU, function codes)

## Workflow

### Step 1: Analyze S7comm Traffic and Identify Vulnerabilities

```python
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""S7comm Protocol Security Analyzer.

Analyzes Siemens S7comm protocol traffic to identify security
vulnerabilities, unauthorized access patterns, and potential
attack indicators against SIMATIC S7 PLCs.
"""

import struct
import sys
import json
from collections import defaultdict
from datetime import datetime
from typing import Dict, List, Optional

try:
    from scapy.all import rdpcap, IP, TCP
except ImportError:
    print("Install scapy: pip install scapy")
    sys.exit(1)


# S7comm ROSCTR (PDU type) definitions
S7_ROSCTR = {
    0x01: "Job (Request)",
    0x02: "Ack",
    0x03: "Ack_Data (Response)",
    0x07: "Userdata",
}

# S7comm function codes
S7_FUNCTIONS = {
    0x00: "CPU services",
    0x04: "Read Variable",
    0x05: "Write Variable",
    0x1A: "Request Download (Program)",
    0x1B: "Download Block",
    0x1C: "Download Ended",
    0x1D: "Start Upload (Read Program)",
    0x1E: "Upload Block",
    0x1F: "Upload Ended",
    0x28: "PI Service (Start/Stop CPU)",
    0x29: "PLC Stop",
    0xF0: "Setup Communication",
}

# Critical security-relevant operations
CRITICAL_FUNCTIONS = {0x1A, 0x1B, 0x1C, 0x28, 0x29, 0x05}
PROGRAM_FUNCTIONS = {0x1A, 0x1B, 0x1C, 0x1D, 0x1E, 0x1F}


class S7commSecurityFinding:
    """Represents a security finding in S7comm traffic."""

    def __init__(self, severity: str, finding_type: str, src_ip: str,
                 dst_ip: str, function: str, description: str,
                 cve: str = "", recommendation: str = ""):
        self.timestamp = datetime.now().isoformat()
        self.severity = severity
        self.finding_type = finding_type
        self.src_ip = src_ip
        self.dst_ip = dst_ip
        self.function = function
        self.description = description
        self.cve = cve
        self.recommendation = recommendation


class S7commAnalyzer:
    """Analyzes S7comm protocol traffic for security vulnerabilities."""

    def __init__(self):
        self.findings: List[S7commSecurityFinding] = []
        self.sessions: Dict[str, dict] = defaultdict(lambda: {
            "packets": 0,
            "functions_seen": set(),
            "writes": 0,
            "program_downloads": 0,
            "cpu_commands": 0,
            "first_seen": None,
            "last_seen": None,
        })
        self.authorized_engineering: set = set()
        self.packet_count = 0

    def set_authorized_stations(self, ips: List[str]):
        """Set list of authorized engineering workstation IPs."""
        self.authorized_engineering = set(ips)

    def parse_s7comm(self, payload: bytes) -> Optional[dict]:
        """Parse S7comm protocol data from TCP payload."""
        # TPKT header: version(1) + reserved(1) + length(2)
        if len(payload) < 4:
            return None

        tpkt_version = payload[0]
        if tpkt_version != 3:
            return None

        tpkt_length = struct.unpack(">H", payload[2:4])[0]

        # COTP header follows TPKT
        if len(payload) < 7:
            return None

        cotp_length = payload[4]
        cotp_type = payload[5]

        # S7comm starts after COTP
        s7_offset = 4 + 1 + cotp_length
        if len(payload) < s7_offset + 10:
            return None

        # S7comm header
        protocol_id = payload[s7_offset]
        if protocol_id != 0x32:  # S7comm magic byte
            return None

        rosctr = payload[s7_offset + 1]
        redundancy = struct.unpack(">H", payload[s7_offset + 2:s7_offset + 4])[0]
        pdu_ref = struct.unpack(">H", payload[s7_offset + 4:s7_offset + 6])[0]
        param_length = struct.unpack(">H", payload[s7_offset + 6:s7_offset + 8])[0]
        data_length = struct.unpack(">H", payload[s7_offset + 8:s7_offset + 10])[0]

        result = {
            "rosctr": rosctr,
            "rosctr_name": S7_ROSCTR.get(rosctr, f"Unknown (0x{rosctr:02x})"),
            "pdu_ref": pdu_ref,
            "param_length": param_length,
            "data_length": data_length,
        }

        # Parse function code from parameters
        param_offset = s7_offset + 10
        if rosctr in (0x01, 0x03) and param_length > 0 and len(payload) > param_offset:
            func_code = payload[param_offset]
            result["function_code"] = func_code
            result["function_name"] = S7_FUNCTIONS.get(func_code, f"Unknown (0x{func_code:02x})")

        return result

    def analyze_packet(self, pkt):
        """Analyze a packet for S7comm security issues."""
        self.packet_count += 1

        if not pkt.haslayer(IP) or not pkt.haslayer(TCP):
            return

        tcp = pkt[TCP]
        if tcp.dport != 102 and tcp.sport != 102:
            return

        payload = bytes(tcp.payload)
        if not payload:
            return

        s7 = self.parse_s7comm(payload)
        if not s7:
            return

        src_ip = pkt[IP].src
        dst_ip = pkt[IP].dst
        session_key = f"{src_ip}->{dst_ip}"
        session = self.sessions[session_key]
        session["packets"] += 1

        if session["first_seen"] is None:
            session["first_seen"] = float(pkt.time)
        session["last_seen"] = float(pkt.time)

        func_code = s7.get("function_code")
        if func_code is not None:
            session["functions_seen"].add(func_code)

            # Check 1: Unauthorized engineering station
            if tcp.dport == 102 and func_code in CRITICAL_FUNCTIONS:
                if self.authorized_engineering and src_ip not in self.authorized_engineering:
                    self.findings.append(S7commSecurityFinding(
                        severity="CRITICAL",
                        finding_type="UNAUTHORIZED_ENGINEERING_ACCESS",
                        src_ip=src_ip, dst_ip=dst_ip,
                        function=s7.get("function_name", "Unknown"),
                        description=(
                            f"Critical S7comm operation from unauthorized source {src_ip}. "
                            f"Function: {s7.get('function_name')}. Only authorized TIA Portal "
                            f"workstations should issue these commands."
                        ),
                        recommendation="Block unauthorized sources at industrial firewall. Investigate source host for compromise.",
                    ))

            # Check 2: CPU Stop command
            if func_code == 0x29:
                session["cpu_commands"] += 1
                self.findings.append(S7commSecurityFinding(
                    severity="CRITICAL",
                    finding_type="CPU_STOP_COMMAND",
                    src_ip=src_ip, dst_ip=dst_ip,
                    function="PLC CPU Stop (0x29)",
                    description=f"CPU STOP command sent to PLC at {dst_ip}. This halts P

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