The episode describes the Stuxnet incident as an attack involving the Stuxnet malware.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jack Rhysider EP 29 Details
“This episode is about Stuxnet, the most sophisticated piece of malware to ever be discovered.”
Incident
incident:stuxnet
Also: Stuxnet attack, Stuxnet operation
The cyber-sabotage operation in which centrifuges at Iran’s Natanz facility were damaged and the malware spread beyond its intended target.
The cyber-sabotage operation in which centrifuges at Iran’s Natanz facility were damaged and the malware spread beyond its intended target.
“Stuxnet burrowed its way deep into a nuclear facility in Iran and destroyed its centrifuges”
“The worm was on the loose.”
Cyberattack against an Iranian nuclear enrichment facility described as degrading centrifuges through malware.
“this was an attack on an Iranian nuclear enrichment facility”
“create a link between the cyber world into the physical world”
| Direction | Predicate | Other entity | Origin | EP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| outgoing | INVOLVES | Stuxnet | Explicit | 29 |
| outgoing | TARGETS | Iran | Explicit | 29 |
| outgoing | TARGETS | Iran | Explicit | 89 |
| outgoing | COMPROMISES | Natanz | Explicit | 29 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | centrifuge | Explicit | 29 |
| outgoing | INITIAL_ACCESS_VIA | USB drive infection | Explicit | 29 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | International Atomic Energy Agency | Explicit | 29 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | Explicit | 29 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | Idaho National Laboratory | Uncertain | 29 |
| outgoing | ATTRIBUTED_TO | Israel | Uncertain | 89 |
The episode describes the Stuxnet incident as an attack involving the Stuxnet malware.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jack Rhysider EP 29 Details
“This episode is about Stuxnet, the most sophisticated piece of malware to ever be discovered.”
The Stuxnet attack targeted Iran.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jack Rhysider EP 29 Details
“Stuxnet burrowed its way deep into a nuclear facility in Iran”
The Stuxnet operation penetrated the Natanz nuclear facility network and infected systems there.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jack Rhysider EP 29 Details
“When the contractor with the infected computer went into the facility the virus spread all through the network”
Stuxnet INVOLVES centrifuge
The incident involved the destruction and malfunction of centrifuges at Natanz.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jack Rhysider EP 29 Details
“there were around 1,000 less working centrifuges compared to the last report”
Stuxnet INITIAL_ACCESS_VIA USB drive infection
The attackers attempted to overcome Natanz’s air gap by placing Stuxnet on USB sticks and getting them into the facility.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jack Rhysider EP 29 Details
“the attackers came up with the idea of putting the virus on a USB stick”
Stuxnet INVOLVES International Atomic Energy Agency
IAEA inspectors visited Natanz and their reports provided evidence about centrifuge problems and the facility’s condition.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Kim Zetter EP 29 Details
“They started visiting Natanz a couple of times a month and they would write reports”
Stuxnet INVOLVES Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory was described as building centrifuge replicas and developing methods to damage them.
Explicit Confidence 96% · Jack Rhysider EP 29 Details
“out at Oakridge National Laboratory, they built a replica of the Natanz facility”
Stuxnet INVOLVES Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory was associated with the operation because of its industrial-control-system expertise, though the episode hedges that it may have assisted.
Uncertain Confidence 88% · Jack Rhysider EP 29 Details
“They may have received help from scientists at the Idaho Lab too”
The Stuxnet attack is described as targeting Iran's nuclear enrichment facility.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jack Rhysider EP 89 Details
“this was an attack on an Iranian nuclear enrichment facility”
Jack says circumstantial evidence indicates that Israel, along with the United States, was behind Stuxnet; the attribution is not presented as certain.
Uncertain Confidence 75% · Jack Rhysider EP 89 Details
“the circumstantial evidence shows that the US and Israel were behind this attack.”