Allen-Bradley GuardPLC Series PLC Technology Detection Scanner

The Allen-Bradley GuardPLC Series PLC is a range of safety-rated PLC family designed specifically for safety-critical industrial automation and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) applications. Industries utilizing these PLCs span from manufacturing to chemical processing; essentially any field requiring rigorous safety compliance. Allen-Bradley, belonging to Rockwell Automation, is known for its reliable and durable control products that ensure operational efficiency and safety. This PLC series is particularly valued for its ability to improve safety while maintaining high productivity & efficiency in industrial settings. As critical components of industrial automation, GuardPLC Series PLCs play a vital role in various control and safety functions. Their usage is governed by stringent regulatory requirements to meet safety standards.

The scanner identifies Allen-Bradley GuardPLC Series PLCs by detecting specific model prefixes in network traffic. The detection is performed using the EtherNet/IP CIP protocol over port 44818, looking for model identifiers starting with 1753-, 1754-, and 1755-. These identifiers are unique to the GuardPLC series, making pinpointing the presence of these devices accurate and reliable. The scanner functions by reading binary sequences in network data to determine if network endpoints consist of the specified PLC models. This identification provides an overview of where and how these PLCs are deployed in the network environment. It also acts as a crucial tool for network administrators seeking to map out or audit their industrial control system infrastructure.

Technical detection of the Allen-Bradley GuardPLC Series PLCs involves analyzing traffic over TCP port 44818. By sending specific hexadecimal data and examining the returned binary sequences, the presence of these devices can be confirmed. The scanner checks for binary patterns like 313735332d, 313735342d, and 313735352d within the network data. These binary sequences correspond to prefixes of the GuardPLC model numbers, indicating interaction with the PLCs. The scanner reads a maximum of 1024 bytes to identify the PLCs, ensuring a thorough check without overwhelming the network resources. The use of EtherNet/IP CIP protocol is essential in ensuring communication compatibility with the PLCs.

If malicious actors exploit the detection capabilities, they could inventory or map out the critical industrial control components within a network. Having such visibility could allow attackers to tailor specific attacks against identified hardware, potentially leading to safety breaches, operational disruptions, and data theft. From a security standpoint, awareness of PLC presence without proper controls may lead to unauthorized access, endangering not only the systems' reliability but also the safety of people working in these critical environments. Moreover, inappropriate handling of detection techniques might inadvertently expose network weaknesses to external threats.

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