• Posted by: Eng. Donya Bino
• December 27, 2025

Securing Critical Infrastructure from IoT Vulnerabilities

In critical infrastructure, IoT devices don’t just collect data.
They open valves, regulate pressure, manage traffic, and balance power loads.
These devices are small, quiet, and often ignored.
That’s exactly why attackers like them.
A compromised sensor in a factory isn’t just an IT issue.
It’s a physical one.

Why IoT Is a Soft Target in Critical Environments
IoT devices are usually built for function first, security later.
In critical infrastructure, that creates problems.

Common weaknesses include:
1. Default or hardcoded credentials
2. Limited patching options
3. Legacy protocols without encryption
4. Flat networks connecting IT and OT
5. Devices that run for years without review
Once deployed, many IoT devices are trusted indefinitely.

How Attackers Exploit IoT Weaknesses
Attackers rarely attack the control system directly.
They start at the edges.

Typical Attack Paths
1. An exposed IoT device that can be accessed through the internet.
2. Weak authentication and/or outdated firmware
3. Access to internal OT networks & management networks
4. Movement toward control systems
5. Manipulate, disrupt, or surveil

No need for zero-days; just products lead to forgotten devices.

Real-World Examples
Power Grid Intrusions: Malicious actors could gain access to control networks by exploiting vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the monitored equipment to develop their internal network blueprint.

Water Treatment Plants: The ability of hackers to change system parameters from any location allowed hackers to modify the settings of water treatment systems.

Smart Building Systems: Suspend-to-Walk and HVAC control systems allowed hackers to break into corporate networks linked to important operations.

Their intent was not on attacking the device.
Their focus was on attacking the connection to the device.

Why Defenders Miss IoT Risks
1. Devices don’t generate useful logs
2. OT environments avoid frequent changes
3. Security tools don’t understand industrial protocols
4. Ownership between IT and OT is unclear
5. “It’s just a sensor” becomes an assumption
Small devices create large blind spots.

Practical Steps to Reduce IoT Risk
1. Inventory Everything
   If you don’t know it exists, you can’t secure it.
2. Segment Aggressively
   IoT devices should never talk freely to control systems or IT networks.
3. Remove Default Credentials
   This stops a surprising number of attacks.
4. Limit Internet Exposure
   Remote access should be controlled, logged, and time-bound.
5. Monitor Behavior, Not Just Alerts
   Sudden communication changes matter more than signatures.
6. Plan for Long Device Lifecycles
   Assume devices will outlive your patching strategy. Design accordingly.

Real-World Analogy
Think of IoT devices like maintenance doors in a power plant.
They’re rarely used, rarely checked, and often unlocked.
Attackers don’t need the main gate.
They look for the side door no one watches.

Critical infrastructure doesn’t fail because of one big mistake; it fails because small risks accumulate quietly. IoT vulnerabilities are rarely dramatic, they’re persistent, overlooked, and perfectly positioned. Securing them isn’t about adding complexity, it’s about reducing trust where it doesn’t belong.