| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the vulnerability in the iPhone's software and fingerprint scanner, allowing hackers to gain control of data and potentially take over users' bank accounts, has happened again within the same organization, Apple Inc. This incident marks at least the fifth security bug in the iPhone and its iOS operating system uncovered since July [22300].
(b) The software failure incident related to the vulnerability in the iPhone's software and fingerprint scanner has also happened at other organizations or with their products and services. The article mentions that a German security company, Berlin’s Security Research Labs (SRL), uncovered the bug in the new iPhone's software, indicating that similar incidents may have occurred with other companies or devices [22300]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the discovery of a bug in the new iPhone's software that allowed hackers to overcome a safeguard for remotely wiping stolen or lost phones. This vulnerability potentially gave criminals time to break into the phones, gain complete control of data, access email accounts, and potentially take over the user's bank accounts. The bug was uncovered by Berlin's Security Research Labs (SRL) [Article 22300].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be observed in the method identified by Ben Schlabs from SRL to prevent the "Find My iPhone" feature from being initiated. By putting an iPhone 5S on airplane mode, cutting off iCloud's ability to communicate with the device, Schlabs bought time to create a "fake finger" to fool Touch ID. This operation-based approach allowed unauthorized access to the device and the user's accounts [Article 22300]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident reported in the news article is primarily due to a bug in the new iPhone's software that allowed hackers to overcome security safeguards and potentially gain complete control of data, access email accounts, and take over the user's bank accounts [22300]. The vulnerability in the iPhone's software was identified by Berlin's Security Research Labs (SRL), indicating an issue originating from within the system itself.
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident also involved external factors such as the actions of hackers exploiting the identified bug in the iPhone's software. The hackers were able to use various methods, including cracking the iPhone fingerprint scanner and manipulating the "Find My iPhone" feature, to gain unauthorized access to the device and the user's accounts [22300]. This demonstrates that the failure was not solely due to internal system issues but also involved external threats and vulnerabilities. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident reported in the articles is primarily due to a bug in the new iPhone's software that enabled hackers to overcome safeguards allowing users to remotely wipe stolen or lost phones. This vulnerability potentially gave criminals time to break into the Apple Inc phones, gain complete control of data, access email accounts, and potentially take over the user’s bank accounts. Additionally, the research firm, Security Research Labs (SRL), discovered flaws in the iPhone fingerprint scanner, providing an easier way to crack it. These issues were identified as non-human actions leading to the software failure incident [Article 22300].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
The software failure incident also involved human actions contributing to the vulnerability. For example, the SRL project manager in biometric security, Ben Schlabs, identified a new method for preventing features like "Find My iPhone" from being initiated. He was able to put an iPhone 5S on airplane mode, cutting off iCloud’s ability to communicate with the device to initiate the features. This action bought him time to create a "fake finger" to fool Touch ID, demonstrating how human actions could exploit the system's vulnerabilities [Article 22300]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The article mentions a bug in the new iPhone's software that allowed hackers to overcome a safeguard for remotely wiping stolen or lost phones [22300].
- The vulnerability in the iPhone software potentially gave criminals time to break into the phones, gain complete control of data, access email accounts, and potentially take over the user's bank accounts [22300].
- The article discusses a method to prevent features like "Find My iPhone" from being initiated by putting the iPhone on airplane mode, cutting off iCloud's ability to communicate with the device [22300].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The article highlights the bug in the iPhone's software that enabled hackers to bypass the safeguard for remotely wiping stolen or lost phones [22300].
- It mentions that the vulnerability in the software could allow criminals to gain complete control of data and access email accounts [22300].
- The article also discusses a flaw in the iPhone fingerprint scanner, indicating a software-related issue [22300]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involves a bug in the new iPhone's software that enables hackers to overcome safeguards, gain complete control of data, access email accounts, potentially take over the user's bank accounts, and engage in total online identity theft [22300]. Additionally, the vulnerability discovered by the German security company, SRL, could give criminals time to break into Apple Inc phones and exploit various security flaws, including bypassing the iPhone fingerprint scanner [22300]. The incident highlights deliberate actions taken by hackers to exploit vulnerabilities in the software for malicious purposes. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor decisions can be seen in the actions of the German security company, Security Research Labs (SRL), in uncovering a bug in the new iPhone's software. SRL discovered a vulnerability that could potentially allow hackers to gain complete control of data, access email accounts, and take over users' bank accounts [22300]. Additionally, SRL project manager Ben Schlabs identified a new method for preventing security features like "Find My iPhone" from being initiated, which involved using a fake finger to fool the Touch ID system [22300].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental decisions can be observed in the actions of Apple Inc. Apple declined to comment on the security bug uncovered by SRL and sometimes refrains from discussing potential security bugs while reviewing research [22300]. This lack of immediate response or transparency could be seen as an accidental decision contributing to the software failure incident. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence can be seen in the discovery of a bug in the new iPhone's software by Berlin's Security Research Labs (SRL). The bug allowed hackers to overcome a safeguard that enabled users to remotely wipe stolen or lost phones. This vulnerability potentially gave criminals time to break into Apple Inc phones, gain complete control of data, access email accounts, and potentially take over the user's bank accounts. SRL also found an easier way to crack the iPhone fingerprint scanner, demonstrating flaws in the software [22300].
(b) The accidental software failure incident can be observed in the unintentional vulnerabilities discovered in the iPhone and its iOS operating system. Since July, at least five security bugs in the iPhone and its operating system have been uncovered. Apple has already fixed some of these flaws, including one that made the devices vulnerable to snooping. The company has remained silent on concerns raised about the security of its Touch ID fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 5S, which was exploited by a German hacker known as Starbug within two days of its release. Several experts independently verified this work, highlighting accidental vulnerabilities in the software [22300]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles seems to be more of a permanent nature. The vulnerability and flaws identified in the iPhone's software by the German security company SRL could potentially give hackers complete control of data, access to email accounts, and even take over the user's bank accounts [Article 22300]. Additionally, the article mentions that the security flaw in the iPhone and its iOS operating system is the fifth one uncovered since July, indicating a recurring issue rather than a one-time occurrence.
(b) The software failure incident does not seem to be temporary as the identified vulnerabilities and flaws in the iPhone's software are not limited to specific circumstances but rather represent ongoing security concerns that need to be addressed by Apple [Article 22300]. |
| Behaviour |
value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the articles does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. The incident is more focused on security vulnerabilities and flaws in the iPhone's software that could potentially allow hackers to gain unauthorized access to user data and accounts [22300].
(b) omission: The software failure incident does not involve a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). Instead, it highlights vulnerabilities in the system that could be exploited by hackers to gain control of data and accounts [22300].
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to a timing issue where the system performs its intended functions correctly but too late or too early. The focus is on security vulnerabilities and flaws that could potentially lead to unauthorized access and control of user data and accounts [22300].
(d) value: The software failure incident does involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. The vulnerabilities identified in the iPhone's software could potentially allow hackers to gain complete control of data, access email accounts, and take over the user's bank accounts [22300].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The focus is more on security vulnerabilities and flaws that could be exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information [22300].
(f) other: The other behavior exhibited in this software failure incident is related to security vulnerabilities and flaws in the iPhone's software that could potentially allow hackers to bypass security safeguards, gain unauthorized access to user data, and take over accounts. The incident highlights the potential risks associated with biometric security features like the Touch ID fingerprint scanner [22300]. |