National Cyber Warfare Foundation (NCWF)

Welcome back, aspiring cyberwarriors! In the first article, we explored how to use Overpass Turbo reveals some valuable assets. In this article, we’ll explore how this web-based OpenStreetMap mining tool can be weaponized for reconnaissance operations, infrastructure mapping, and target identification in cyber warfare scenarios. Let’s get rolling! Why Overpass Turbo Matters in Cyber Warfare […]

The post Open Source Intelligence (OSINT): Using Overpass Turbo for Strategic CyberWar Intelligence Gathering first appeared on Hackers Arise.

Welcome back, aspiring cyberwarriors!

In the first article, we explored how to use Overpass Turbo reveals some valuable assets. In this article, we’ll explore how this web-based OpenStreetMap mining tool can be weaponized for reconnaissance operations, infrastructure mapping, and target identification in cyber warfare scenarios.

Let’s get rolling!

Why Overpass Turbo Matters in Cyber Warfare

In modern cyber operations, the traditional boundaries between digital and physical security have dissolved. What makes Overpass Turbo particularly valuable for offensive opperations is that all this data is crowdsourced and publicly available, making your reconnaissance activities completely legal and untraceable. You’re simply querying public databases—no network scanning, no unauthorized access, no digital footprint on your target’s systems.

Step #1: Critical Infrastructure Mapping

Critical infrastructure can act both as a target and as a weapon in a cyber‑war. Let’s see how we can identify assets such as power towers, transmission lines, and similar facilities.

To accomplish this, we can run the following query:

[out:json][timeout:90];
(
  nwr[power~"^(line|cable|tower|pole|substation|transformer|generator|plant)$"]({{bbox}});
  node[man_made=street_cabinet][street_cabinet=power]({{bbox}});
  way[building][power~"^(substation|transformer|plant)$"]({{bbox}});
);
out tags geom;

This query fetches power infrastructure elements from OpenStreetMap in a given area ({{bbox}}), including related street cabinets and buildings.

The results can reveal single points of failure and interconnected dependencies within the power infrastructure.

Step #2: Cloud/Hosting Provider Facilities

Another key component of today’s internet ecosystem is hosting and cloud providers. This time, let’s locate those providers in Moscow by defining a precise bounding box using the southwest corner at 55.4899 ° N, 37.3193 ° E and the northeast corner at 56.0097 ° N, 37.9457 ° E.

[out:json][timeout:25];
(
  nw["operator"~"Yandex|Selectel"](55.4899,37.3193,56.0097,37.9457);
);
out body;
>;
out skel qt;

Where,

out body – returns the primary data along with all associated tags.

>; – fetches every node referenced by the selected ways, giving you the complete geometry.

out skel qt; – outputs only the skeletal structure (node IDs and coordinates), which speeds up processing and reduces the response size.

Offensive value of this data lies in pinpointing cloud regions to launch geographically tailored attacks, extracting location‑specific customer data, orchestrating physical‑access missions, or compromising supply‑chain deliveries.

Step #3: Cellular Network Infrastructure

Mobile networks are essential for civilian communications and are increasingly embedded in IoT and industrial control systems. Yet, identifying IMSI catchers and cell towers is straightforward using the query below.

[out:json][timeout:25];
{{geocodeArea:Moscow}}->.searchArea;

(
  node["man_made"="mast"]["tower:type"="communication"](area.searchArea);
  node["man_made"="antenna"]["communication:mobile_phone"="yes"](area.searchArea);
  node["tower:type"="cellular"](area.searchArea);
  way["tower:type"="cellular"](area.searchArea);
  node["man_made"="base_station"](area.searchArea);
);
out body;
out geom;

Step #4: Microwave & Satellite Communication

With just a few lines of Overpass QL queries, you can retrieve data on microwave and satellite communication structures anywhere in the world.

[out:json][timeout:25];
{{geocodeArea:Moscow}}->.searchArea;

(
  node["man_made"="mast"]["tower:type"="microwave"](area.searchArea);
  node["communication:microwave"="yes"](area.searchArea);
  
  node["man_made"="satellite_dish"](area.searchArea);
  node["man_made"="dish"](area.searchArea);
  way["man_made"="dish"](area.searchArea);
  
  node["communication:satellite"="yes"](area.searchArea);
);
out body;
out geom;

Summary

The strength of Overpass Turbo isn’t its modest interface—it’s the depth and breadth of intelligence you can extract from OpenStreetMap’s crowdsourced data. Whenever OSM holds the information you need, Overpass turns it into clean, visual, and structured results. Equally important, the tool is completely free, legal, and requires no prior registration.

Given the massive amount of crowd‑contributed data in OSM, Overpass Turbo is an invaluable resource for any OSINT investigator.