| The purpose of this research project is to demonstrate vulnerabilities seen within railway ICS and identify the cybernetic impact they can have on railway operations. Railways play an important role within society. They are vital assets in the advancement of economic interest, transportation, and military operations. This can be observed in the transportation of goods across large distances, as well as the movement of troops and equipment for the accomplishment of military objectives. However, as railways develop over time, so does the technology associated with them. This new technology focuses on automated systems to improve reliability and safety.;As a result, the industry's focus on reliability and safety has opened a series of gaps within the cybernetic realm that are not being attended. As a result, technological advancements within the railway industry have opened the door to various vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities can be associated to train balises, Global Systems for Mobile Communications Railway (GSM-R), and Computer-Based Interlocking (CBI) equipment. As railways become more interconnected the more vulnerable they can be to attackers within the cyberspace domain. This caught the attention of various cyber actors looking to deny, degrade, and disrupt railways. Nation-states, as well as non-state actors, have expressed their interest in disrupting the critical infrastructure behind railway systems. Serious catastrophic effects can occur if these vulnerabilities are compromised. Therefore, this capstone project provides cyber awareness within the railway industry and its suppliers. It also helps the cybersecurity community better understand the problem associated to railway vulnerabilities, and how to best protect that environment. |
