generate new data that resembles the original dataset. LLMs are a type of generative AI that are trained on massive amounts of text data, enabling them to understand context, generate human-like responses, and create content based on user input.

GPT stands for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer and, as the name suggests, is an LLM that has been pre-trained to improve accuracy and/or provide specific knowledge-based data generation.

ChatGPT has sparked debates regarding plagiarism within academic circles and content creation communities. Additionally, it has been associated with misinformation and social engineering efforts, attributed to its capacity to produce realistic, human-like text. Despite these concerns, the transformative potential of such technology across multiple industries is undeniable. Specifically, large language models (LLMs) demonstrate considerable promise in technical domains like programming and cybersecurity. These models leverage their extensive knowledge base to perform intricate tasks, including instant data analysis and coding of fully operational software.

Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability Assessment is an essential part of any organization’s security strategy. It involves identifying, classifying, and prioritizing vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, and software to understand the potential threats to an organization’s security. A thorough vulnerability assessment plan helps in systematically evaluating the security of systems against known vulnerabilities, ensuring that the defensive measures are not only in place but also effective.

In this blog, I try to explore using using ChatGPT for creating vulnerability assement plans, a crucial part of any cybersecurity strategy.

In later subsequent blogs I will delve into using ChatGPT in conjunction with the MITRE ATT&CK framework, a globally accessible knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques.

Creating Vulnerability Assessment Plans

How to do it…

Let me walk you through the process of using ChatGPT to create a comprehensive vulnerability assessment plan tailored to a specific network and organization’s needs. By providing the necessary details and using the given system role and prompt, you will be able to generate a well-structured assessment plan:

1. Begin by logging in to your ChatGPT account and navigating to the ChatGPT web UI.
2. Start a new conversation with ChatGPT by clicking the New chat button.
3. Enter the following prompt to establish a system role:

You are a cybersecurity professional specializing in vulnerability assessment.

4. Enter the following message text, but replace the placeholders in the { } brackets with the appropriate data of your choice. You can either combine this prompt with the system role or enter it separately as follows:

Using cybersecurity industry standards, regulations and best practices, create a complete and detailed assessment plan (not looking for a penetration test) that includes: Introduction, outline of the process/methodology, required tools, and a very detailed multi-layered outline of the steps involved. Provide a thorough and descriptive introduction and as much detail and description as possible throughout the plan. The plan should not be the only assessment of technical vulnerabilities on systems but also policies, procedures, and compliance. It should include the use of scanning tools as well as configuration review, operation & maintenance staff interviews, and production/manufacturing site walk-around. All recommendations should follow industry standard best practices and methods. The plan should be a minimum of 2000 words.
Create the plan so that it is specific for the following details:
Network Size: {Large}
Number of Nodes: {250}
Type of Devices: {Desktops, Firewalls, Network Switches, Printers, Routers, Intelligent Electronic Devices, PLC’s, Gateways}
Specific systems or devices that need to be excluded from the assessment: {None}
Operating Systems: {Windows 10, Linux, vxworks}
Network Topology: {Star}
Access Controls: {Role-based access control}
Previous Security Incidents: {No incidents in the last year}
Compliance Requirements: {IEC-62443-3-3}
Business Critical Assets: {Critical Infrastructure Assets}
Data Classification: {Highly confidential}
Goals and objectives of the vulnerability assessment: {To identify and prioritize potential vulnerabilities in the network and provide recommendations for remediation and risk mitigation}
Timeline for the vulnerability assessment: {4 weeks}
Team: {3 cybersecurity professionals, including a vulnerability assessment lead and two security analysts}
Expected deliverables of the assessment: {A detailed report outlining the results of the vulnerability assessment, including identified vulnerabilities, their criticality, potential impact on the network, and recommendations for remediation and risk mitigation}
Audience: {The organization’s OT department, senior management, and any external auditors or regulators}
Provide the plan using the following format and markdown language:
#Vulnerability Assessment Plan
##Introduction
Thorough Introduction to the plan including the scope, reasons for doing it, goals and objectives, and summary of the plan
##Process/Methodology
Description and Outline of the process/Methodology
##Tools Required
List of required tools and applications, with their descriptions and reasons needed
##Assessment Steps
Detailed, multi-layered outline of the assessment steps

5. Review the generated output from ChatGPT. If the output is satisfactory and meets the requirements, you can proceed to the next step. If not, you can either refine your prompt or rerun the conversation to generate a new output.
6. Once you have obtained the desired output, you can use the generated Markdown to create a well-structured vulnerability assessment plan in your preferred text editor or Markdown viewer.
7. Figure below shows an example ChatGPT generation of a vulnerability assessment plan using Markdown language formatting.