performing-scada-hmi-security-assessment skill (Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills)
From Public Agent Wiki
Contents
- Install
- SKILL.md (verbatim)
- When to Use
- Prerequisites
- Workflow
- Step 1: Assess HMI Attack Surface
- Key Concepts
- Output Format
- Other files in this skill
- references/api-reference.md (verbatim)
- SCADA Protocol Ports
- Port Scanning (socket stdlib)
- pyshark for Protocol Analysis
- Insecure SCADA Protocols
- HMI Configuration Checks
- Common Default Credentials
- ICS Security Standards
- Output Schema
- CLI Usage
What it does. 'Perform security assessments of SCADA Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Part of mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills (817 security skills) (mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills).
| Upstream | mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills |
| Skill file | skills/performing-scada-hmi-security-assessment/SKILL.md |
| License | Apache-2.0 (skill folder LICENSE) |
| Author | mukul975 |
| Fetched | 2026-09-10 |
Install
npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills --skill performing-scada-hmi-security-assessment, or copy the skill folder into~/.claude/skills/performing-scada-hmi-security-assessment/.- Raw file:
curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills/HEAD/skills/performing-scada-hmi-security-assessment/SKILL.md
SKILL.md (verbatim)
name: performing-scada-hmi-security-assessment
description: 'Perform security assessments of SCADA Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
systems to identify vulnerabilities in web-based HMIs, thin-client configurations,
authentication mechanisms, and communication channels between HMI and PLCs, aligned
with IEC 62443 and NIST SP 800-82 guidelines.
'
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: ot-ics-security
tags:
- ot-security
- ics
- scada
- hmi
- security-assessment
- vulnerability
- iec62443
- nist-800-82
version: '1.0'
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_csf:
- PR.IR-01
- DE.CM-01
- ID.AM-05
- GV.OC-02
mitre_attack:
- T1078
- T1190
- T1059
- T0816
- T0836
Performing SCADA HMI Security Assessment
When to Use
- When assessing the security posture of HMI systems in SCADA/DCS environments
- When evaluating web-based HMI interfaces for common web vulnerabilities
- When auditing HMI authentication, authorization, and session management
- When testing communication security between HMIs and PLCs/RTUs
- When preparing for IEC 62443 or NERC CIP compliance assessments
Do not use for testing HMIs in active production without a maintenance window and rollback plan, for PLC-level protocol analysis (see performing-s7comm-protocol-security-analysis), or for general web application testing on non-OT systems.
Prerequisites
- HMI system inventory with vendor, version, and network configuration details
- Lab or test environment mirroring production HMI setup (preferred for active testing)
- Authorization from plant operations for testing during maintenance windows
- NIST SP 800-82 and IEC 62443 security requirements documentation
- Network capture capability on HMI-to-PLC communication segment
Workflow
Step 1: Assess HMI Attack Surface
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""SCADA HMI Security Assessment Tool.
Evaluates HMI security across authentication, communication,
configuration, and web interface categories aligned with
IEC 62443 and NIST SP 800-82 requirements.
"""
import json
import sys
from datetime import datetime
from typing import Dict, List
try:
import requests
except ImportError:
print("Install requests: pip install requests")
sys.exit(1)
class HMISecurityAssessment:
"""Performs security assessment of SCADA HMI systems."""
def __init__(self, hmi_info: dict):
self.hmi_info = hmi_info
self.findings = []
self.checks_run = 0
self.checks_passed = 0
def check_authentication(self):
"""Assess HMI authentication mechanisms."""
checks = [
{
"id": "AUTH-01",
"name": "Password complexity enforcement",
"iec62443_ref": "ISA-62443-3-3 SR 1.7",
"description": "HMI must enforce minimum password complexity requirements",
"test": "Verify minimum length >= 8, complexity rules, history >= 5",
},
{
"id": "AUTH-02",
"name": "Account lockout policy",
"iec62443_ref": "ISA-62443-3-3 SR 1.11",
"description": "HMI must lock accounts after failed login attempts",
"test": "Verify lockout after 5 failed attempts, lockout duration >= 15 min",
},
{
"id": "AUTH-03",
"name": "Default credentials changed",
"iec62443_ref": "ISA-62443-3-3 SR 1.5",
"description": "All default vendor credentials must be changed",
"test": "Attempt login with known vendor defaults (admin/admin, operator/operator)",
},
{
"id": "AUTH-04",
"name": "Role-based access control",
"iec62443_ref": "ISA-62443-3-3 SR 2.1",
"description": "HMI must separate operator, engineer, and admin roles",
"test": "Verify operator role cannot access engineering functions",
},
{
"id": "AUTH-05",
"name": "Session timeout enforcement",
"iec62443_ref": "ISA-62443-3-3 SR 1.12",
"description": "HMI sessions must time out after inactivity",
"test": "Verify session timeout <= 15 minutes for operator, <= 5 for admin",
},
{
"id": "AUTH-06",
"name": "Multi-factor authentication for remote access",
"iec62443_ref": "ISA-62443-3-3 SR 1.13",
"description": "Remote HMI access requires MFA",
"test": "Verify MFA is enforced for all non-local HMI connections",
},
]
print(f"\n--- AUTHENTICATION ASSESSMENT ---")
for check in checks:
self.checks_run += 1
print(f" [{check['id']}] {check['name']}")
print(f" Ref: {check['iec62443_ref']}")
print(f" Test: {check['test']}")
def check_communication_security(self):
"""Assess HMI-to-PLC communication security."""
checks = [
{
"id": "COMM-01",
"name": "Encrypted HMI-PLC communication",
"description": "Traffic between HMI and PLCs should use encrypted protocols (OPC UA with TLS)",
"test": "Capture HMI-PLC traffic and verify encryption (Wireshark TLS handshake)",
},
{
"id": "COMM-02",
"name": "HMI write command authentication",
"description": "Write commands from HMI to PLC should be authenticated",
"test": "Verify that write operations require operator confirmation/authentication",
},
{
"id": "COMM-03",
"name": "Web HMI uses HTTPS",
"description": "Web-based HMI interfaces must use TLS 1.2+ with valid certificates",
"test": "Check TLS version, cipher suites, certificate validity",
},
{
"id": "COMM-04",
"name": "No cleartext protocols in use",
"description": "Telnet, FTP, HTTP must not be used for HMI access or management",
"test": "Port scan HMI for cleartext protocol services",
},
]
print(f"\n--- COMMUNICATION SECURITY ASSESSMENT ---")
for check in checks:
self.checks_run += 1
print(f" [{check['id']}] {check['name']}")
print(f" Test: {check['test']}")
def check_web_hmi_security(self):
"""Assess web-based HMI for common web vulnerabilities."""
hmi_url = self.hmi_info.get("url", "")
if not hmi_url:
print(f"\n [SKIP] No web HMI URL provided")
return
checks = [
{
"id": "WEB-01",
"name": "Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)",
"owasp": "A7:2017",
"test": "Test input fields with XSS payloads in tag names, alarm messages",
},
{
"id": "WEB-02",
"name": "Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)",
"owasp": "A8:2013",
"test": "Verify CSRF tokens on state-changing operations (setpoint changes)",
},
{
"id": "WEB-03",
"name": "Insecure Direct Object References",
"owasp": "A4:2013",
"test": "Manipulate URL parameters to access other users HMI views",
},
{
"id": "WEB-04",
"name": "Security Headers",
"test": "Verify X-Frame-Options, CSP, X-Content-Type-Options headers",
},
{
"id": "WEB-05",
"name": "Privileged file system access (CVE-2025-0921)",
"test": "Check Ignition SCADA for privileged file system vulnerability via project files",
},
]
print(f"\n--- WEB HMI SECURITY ASSESSMENT ---")
print(f" Target: {hmi_url}")
for check in checks:
self.checks_run += 1
print(f" [{check['id']}] {check['name']}")
print(f" Test: {check['test']}")
def check_hardening(self):
"""Assess HMI operating system and application hardening."""
checks = [
{
"id": "HARD-01",
"name": "OS patch level",
"test": "Verify HMI OS is patched within SLA (typically 90 days for OT)",
},
{
"id": "HARD-02",
"name": "Unnecessary services disabled",
"test": "Verify no unnecessary network services running (RDP if not needed, SMB, etc)",
},
{
"id": "HARD-03",
"name": "USB port restrictions",
"test": "Verify USB mass storage is blocked on HMI terminals",
},
{
"id": "HARD-04",
"name": "Application whitelisting",
"test": "Verify only authorized HMI applications can execute",
},
{
"id": "HARD-05",
"name": "Audit logging enabled",
"test": "Verify operator actions, login events, and setpoint changes are logged",
},
]
print(f"\n--- HMI HARDENING ASSESSMENT ---")
for check in checks:
self.checks_run += 1
print(f" [{check['id']}] {check['name']}")
print(f" Test: {check['test']}")
def generate_report(self):
"""Generate assessment report."""
self.check_authentication()
self.check_communication_security()
self.check_web_hmi_security()
self.check_hardening()
print(f"\n{'='*70}")
print("SCADA HMI SECURITY ASSESSMENT SUMMARY")
print(f"{'='*70}")
print(f"Date: {datetime.now().isoformat()}")
print(f"HMI: {self.hmi_info.get('name', 'Unknown')}")
print(f"Vendor: {self.hmi_info.get('vendor', 'Unknown')}")
print(f"Version: {self.hmi_info.get('version', 'Unknown')}")
print(f"Total Checks: {self.checks_run}")
print(f"Findings: {len(self.findings)}")
if __name__ == "__main__":
assessment = HMISecurityAssessment(hmi_info={
"name": "Plant-HMI-01",
"vendor": "Siemens WinCC",
"version": "7.5 SP2",
"ip": "10.10.2.10",
"url": "https://10.10.2.10:8080",
"os": "Windows 10 LTSC 2021",
})
assessment.generate_report()
Key Concepts
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| HMI | Human-Machine Interface providing operators visual representation and control of industrial processes |
| Web HMI | Browser-based HMI interface accessible via HTTP/HTTPS, subject to standard web vulnerabilities |
| Setpoint | Target value for a process variable that operators can change through the HMI; unauthorized changes can cause process upset |
| Alarm Suppression | Attacker technique of disabling or hiding HMI alarms to mask malicious process manipulation |
| WinCC | Siemens SCADA/HMI software widely deployed in manufacturing and process industries |
| CVE-2025-0921 | Ignition SCADA privileged file system vulnerability exploitable through malicious project uploads |
Output Format
HMI SECURITY ASSESSMENT REPORT
=================================
Date: YYYY-MM-DD
HMI: [name] | Vendor: [vendor] | Version: [version]
FINDINGS BY CATEGORY:
Authentication: [pass/fail count]
Communication: [pass/fail count]
Web Security: [pass/fail count]
Hardening: [pass/fail count]
CRITICAL FINDINGS:
1. [finding with remediation]
COMPLIANCE STATUS:
IEC 62443 SL-T: [target level]
IEC 62443 SL-A: [achieved level]
Other files in this skill
references/api-reference.md (verbatim)
SCADA HMI Security Assessment - API Reference
SCADA Protocol Ports
| Port | Protocol | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | S7comm | Siemens S7 PLC communication |
| 502 | Modbus TCP | Industrial automation protocol |
| 2222 | EtherNet/IP | Allen-Bradley, Rockwell |
| 4840 | OPC UA | Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture |
| 20000 | DNP3 | Distributed Network Protocol |
| 47808 | BACnet | Building Automation and Control |
Port Scanning (socket stdlib)
import socket
sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
sock.settimeout(2.0)
result = sock.connect_ex((target, port)) # 0 = open
sock.close()
pyshark for Protocol Analysis
import pyshark
cap = pyshark.FileCapture("traffic.pcap")
for pkt in cap:
for layer in pkt.layers:
print(layer.layer_name) # modbus, s7comm, dnp3, etc.
cap.close()
Insecure SCADA Protocols
These protocols lack built-in encryption and authentication:
- Modbus TCP - No auth, no encryption, commands in plaintext
- S7comm - No auth (pre-V4), no encryption
- DNP3 - Optional Secure Authentication (SA), rarely deployed
- BACnet - No native security mechanisms
- EtherNet/IP - No encryption, device enumeration possible
HMI Configuration Checks
| Check | Severity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication disabled | Critical | HMI allows anonymous access |
| No session timeout | High | Sessions persist indefinitely |
| TLS disabled | High | Communications in plaintext |
| Remote access without VPN | Critical | HMI exposed without tunnel |
| No RBAC | High | Single role or no access control |
| Default credentials | Critical | Factory-default username/password |
Common Default Credentials
| Username | Password | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| admin | admin | Generic HMI |
| admin | 1234 | Siemens WinCC |
| operator | operator | Wonderware |
| engineer | engineer | GE iFIX |
| guest | guest | Various |
ICS Security Standards
- IEC 62443 - Industrial communication network security
- NIST SP 800-82 - Guide to ICS Security
- NERC CIP - Critical Infrastructure Protection (power grid)
Output Schema
{
"report": "scada_hmi_security_assessment",
"target": "192.168.1.100",
"total_findings": 6,
"severity_summary": {"critical": 2, "high": 3, "medium": 1},
"findings": [{"type": "open_scada_port", "severity": "high"}]
}
CLI Usage
python agent.py --target 192.168.1.100 --pcap traffic.pcap --config hmi.json --output report.json
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