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A water pump cannot carry Stuxnet.... but the Variable frequency drive (VFD) that runs the motor which runs the pump in theory could host malware within the dri
by c_o_n_v_e_x 3y ago
A water pump cannot carry Stuxnet.... but the Variable frequency drive (VFD) that runs the motor which runs the pump in theory could host malware within the drive's firmware. Or perhaps the VFD was interdicted and had some custom hardware installed? This is all assuming that it's a variable speed pump and not a fixed speed, in which case it's basically directly wired to line voltage with big electrical switch for on/off control.
VFDs are connected to the process control system through a variety of interfaces... simple voltage or current loops, serial buses like BACnet, modbus, or ethernet interfaces like modbus TCP.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- doobiedowner 3y agoHacked VFD firmware makes the most sense to me. The PLC/PAC is giving a reference of xx Hz, the hacked VFD overrides the speed reference to destroy the centrifuge but reports back that everything is tickety-boo.
- hoofhearted 3y agoIt was a Siemens system, so PXC.
- kumarvvr 3y agoI think Stuxnet was much more sophisticated, and the pump (along with VFD) could be an entry point into their network. The centrifuges that were destroyed are not driven by pumps. Motors, yes, but not pumps.