From Y2K to 2038: Uncovering Time Bombs in OT and ICS Systems with Pedro Umbelino

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow welcomes Pedro Umbelino, Principal Research Scientist at BitSight, for an insightful and lively conversation recorded shortly after they met at RSA. Pedro shares stories of his early days in computing, from scavenging parts as a kid to teaching himself programming on a ZX Spectrum. The discussion quickly dives into critical cybersecurity issues across the interconnected worlds of IT and OT, focusing on dramatic vulnerabilities in Automatic Tank Gauges (ATGs) at gas stations—exposing ways attackers could cause significant physical damage and even spark major operational disruptions, all through insecure legacy protocols.

 

Pedro also brings attention to a ticking time bomb: the “Year 2038” problem, where millions (if not billions) of 32-bit systems might fail due to an epoch time rollover—an issue that could have consequences reminiscent of Y2K, but on a potentially broader scale, especially for OT and critical infrastructure.

 

Throughout the episode, Aaron and Pedro share practical strategies, lessons from the field, and the sobering reminder that many of these vulnerabilities are still lurking below the surface. The conversation highlights the importance of awareness, collaboration across industry and ISPs, and a proactive approach to understanding and hardening both new and legacy systems. Whether you're an OT engineer, a security researcher, or just curious about what it means to truly “protect it all,” this episode offers a fascinating look at the evolving landscape of digital and physical security risks.

 

Key Moments:

06:37 Letting Go of Old Memories

15:12 Refueling Spill Risks Concern Technicians

17:37 Understanding Risks Beyond Fear

23:24 Internet Exposure Risks for OT Devices

32:17 Global Cyber Incident Response Challenges

35:30 Legacy System Challenges

39:19 Unidentified Cyber Assets Risk

48:41 "Understanding the Epochalypse Project's Challenges"

49:31 Testing System Vulnerabilities at Scale

55:12 Tech Vulnerabilities Analogous to Y2K

01:03:08 Challenges in OT Modernization

 

About the Guest:

Pedro Umbelino currently holds the position of Principal Research Scientist at Bitsight Technologies and brings over a decade of experience in dedicated security research.

⁤His eclectic curiosity has led to the uncovering of vulnerabilities spanning a gamut of technologies, highlighting critical issues in multiple devices and software, ranging from your everyday smartphone to household smart vacuums, from the intricacies of HTTP servers to the nuances of NFC radio frequencies, from vehicle GPS trackers to protocol-level denial of service attacks. 

Pedro is committed to advancing cybersecurity knowledge and has shared his findings at prominent conferences, including Bsides Lisbon, DEF CON, Hack.lu and RSA.

How to connect Pedro :
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedroumbelino/