Incident: Hacking of US Army Helicopter Simulator and Game Developers

Published Date: 2014-04-12

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident happened between 2011 and 2012 [25726].
System 1. US Army helicopter simulator software 2. Microsoft Xbox game system 3. Call of Duty pre-release versions 4. AH-64D Apache Simulator program
Responsible Organization 1. The gang consisting of Sanadodeh Nesheiwat, Nathan Leroux, and David Pokora were responsible for causing the software failure incident [25726].
Impacted Organization 1. US Army - The software failure incident impacted the US Army as the hackers breached the US Army helicopter simulator software used for training pilots to fly the Apache AH-64D gunship [25726].
Software Causes 1. Hacking into the US Army helicopter simulator software and stealing data [25726] 2. Hacking into computer systems of various companies including Microsoft, Valve Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Zombie Studios, and Epic Games to illegally download pre-release versions of games [25726] 3. Using stolen technical details to create counterfeit Microsoft Xbox One machines [25726]
Non-software Causes 1. The individuals involved in the incident engaged in hacking activities to steal top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games [25726]. 2. The accused individuals breached computer systems and stole data, including simulation software from the Apache attack helicopter, and used stolen technical details to create counterfeit Microsoft Xbox One machines [25726]. 3. The individuals targeted network weak points to gain illegal access to computer systems of companies like Microsoft, Valve Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Zombie Studios, and Epic Games [25726]. 4. The accused individuals hacked into various computer networks to download pre-release versions of popular games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 [25726]. 5. The individuals were involved in the scheme between 2011 and 2012 while Microsoft was developing its new Xbox One game system, using internal design and technical specifications to build counterfeit machines [25726].
Impacts 1. The software failure incident led to the theft of top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software, compromising national security [25726]. 2. The incident resulted in the hacking of pre-release versions of popular games, including 'Call of Duty,' affecting the intellectual property and revenue of game developers [25726]. 3. The accused individuals used stolen technical details to create counterfeit Microsoft Xbox One machines, leading to financial losses and potential reputational damage for Microsoft [25726]. 4. The breach of computer systems and illegal access to networks by the hackers caused disruptions and potential data breaches for companies such as Microsoft, Valve Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Zombie Studios, and Epic Games [25726]. 5. The incident highlighted vulnerabilities in network security and weak points that were exploited by the hackers, raising concerns about cybersecurity measures in place [25726].
Preventions 1. Implementing robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access [25726]. 2. Conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weak points in the network [25726]. 3. Enhancing employee training on cybersecurity best practices to prevent internal threats and unauthorized access [25726]. 4. Monitoring and logging network activity to detect any suspicious behavior or unauthorized access in real-time [25726]. 5. Implementing strict access controls and multi-factor authentication to limit access to critical systems and data [25726].
Fixes 1. Enhancing network security measures to prevent unauthorized access and hacking attempts [25726] 2. Implementing stricter access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual activities on computer systems [25726] 3. Conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weak points in the network [25726] 4. Educating employees and users on cybersecurity best practices to prevent social engineering attacks and unauthorized data breaches [25726]
References 1. FBI agents [Article 25726] 2. Court documents [Article 25726] 3. Federal prosecutors [Article 25726] 4. The Smoking Gun [Article 25726] 5. US District Court in Wilmington, Delaware [Article 25726]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization a) The software failure incident related to hacking into top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games like 'Call of Duty' occurred at Zombie Studios, the company contracted by the US Army to develop the simulation software [25726]. b) The incident also involved hacking into computer systems of various other organizations including Microsoft, Valve Corporation, Activision Blizzard, and Epic Games to illegally download pre-release versions of popular games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 [25726].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the case where the three men hacked into various computer networks, including Microsoft, Valve Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Zombie Studios, and Epic Games, to illegally download pre-release versions of popular games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 [25726]. (b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the actions of the individuals involved in the hacking scheme, where they breached network weak points to gain illegal access to computer systems, including the US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games. This operation involved using stolen information to create counterfeit Xbox One machines and selling them on eBay [25726].
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system, outside_system (a) within_system: - The software failure incident in this case involved hacking into top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games like 'Call of Duty' from within the system [25726]. - The hackers breached the computer systems and stole data, including simulation software from the Apache attack helicopter, which was part of the internal system [25726]. - The men targeted 'network weak points' within the system to gain illegal access to computer systems of companies like Microsoft, Valve Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Zombie Studios, and Epic Games [25726]. - They accessed the networks to illegally download games still in development, such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, indicating internal system breaches [25726]. (b) outside_system: - The FBI waited eight months before moving in on the three-man gang, suggesting external factors like investigation timelines or legal procedures influencing the handling of the incident [25726]. - The case was brought before a grand jury in July 2013 at the US District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, indicating legal processes external to the system [25726]. - The FBI believed that individuals from North Carolina and Australia were also involved in the scheme, pointing to external connections beyond the immediate system [25726].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to non-human actions, specifically hacking activities carried out by the gang. The group hacked into top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games like 'Call of Duty' by breaching computer systems and stealing data [25726]. (b) However, human actions also played a significant role in this software failure incident. The individuals involved in the hacking scheme actively engaged in computer hacking, fraud, and conspiracy, which ultimately led to the breach of various computer networks and the theft of sensitive software and data [25726].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The software failure incident in this case does not seem to be related to hardware issues. The incident primarily involves hacking into computer systems, stealing software data, and creating counterfeit Xbox consoles using stolen information. There is no indication of hardware failure contributing to the incident [25726]. (b) The software failure incident in this case is directly related to software issues. The individuals hacked into various computer networks, breached secure systems, and illegally downloaded pre-release versions of popular games like Call of Duty. They also accessed and stole simulation software used by the US Army for training pilots to fly the Apache AH-64D gunship. The incident involved exploiting software vulnerabilities and weaknesses in network security to carry out the hacking activities [25726].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident in this case is malicious. The FBI arrested three men who hacked into top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games such as 'Call of Duty' with the intent to steal data and create counterfeit products for financial gain. The men were charged with conspiracy, fraud, and computer hacking after breaching various computer systems and networks, including those of Microsoft, game developers like Valve Corporation and Activision Blizzard, and Zombie Studios which developed the simulation software for the Apache helicopter [25726]. The individuals involved targeted network weak points to gain illegal access to computer systems and illegally downloaded pre-release versions of games, indicating a malicious intent to exploit the systems for personal benefit.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions The software failure incident reported in Article 25726 was primarily driven by poor decisions made by the individuals involved in the hacking scheme. The men hacked into top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games like 'Call of Duty' by targeting 'network weak points' to gain illegal access to computer systems [25726]. They breached the secure network of Zombie Studios to access the AH-64D Apache Simulator program, which was developed for training pilots [25726]. Additionally, they used stolen technical details to create counterfeit Microsoft Xbox One machines, which were later sold for profit [25726]. These actions demonstrate a deliberate and calculated effort to exploit vulnerabilities and steal intellectual property, indicating poor decisions made by the individuals involved in the software failure incident.
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) accidental (a) The software failure incident in this case does not seem to be related to development incompetence. The incident was primarily driven by intentional hacking activities carried out by individuals who breached computer systems to steal data, including simulation software and pre-release versions of popular games like Call of Duty [25726]. (b) The software failure incident can be categorized as accidental in the sense that the individuals involved accidentally gained access to sensitive information through exploiting network weak points and breaching secure networks of companies like Microsoft, Valve Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Zombie Studios, and Epic Games. The breach was not a result of intentional development incompetence but rather accidental exploitation of vulnerabilities [25726].
Duration temporary The software failure incident described in the articles is more aligned with a temporary failure rather than a permanent one. This incident involved the hacking of top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games by a group of individuals. The incident was a result of specific circumstances such as the hacking activities carried out by the group, rather than a permanent failure inherent in the software itself. The incident was temporary in nature as it was caused by the actions of the hackers breaching the computer systems and stealing data, rather than a fundamental flaw in the software that would persist regardless of external factors [25726].
Behaviour crash, omission, value, other (a) crash: The software failure incident in the articles can be categorized as a crash as the hackers breached the US Army helicopter simulator software, causing it to fail in its intended function of training pilots to fly the Apache AH-64D gunship [25726]. (b) omission: The incident can also be classified as an omission failure as the hackers omitted the proper authorization and access rights by illegally breaching the computer systems of various entities such as the US Army, Microsoft, and game developers to steal sensitive data and software [25726]. (c) timing: There is no specific indication in the articles that the software failure incident was related to timing issues. (d) value: The incident can be linked to a value failure as the hackers used stolen technical details to create counterfeit Microsoft Xbox One machines and sold them for profit, indicating that the software was performing its functions incorrectly by being used for unauthorized purposes [25726]. (e) byzantine: The incident does not align with a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. (f) other: The other behavior exhibited in this software failure incident is unauthorized access and hacking, where the hackers gained illegal entry into secure computer systems to steal sensitive data and software, leading to a breach of security and trust [25726].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception network_communication, embedded_software <Article 25726> The software failure incident reported in the article is related to the embedded software layer of the cyber physical system. The incident involved hacking into the computer systems to steal top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games like 'Call of Duty' on the Microsoft Xbox game system. The hackers breached the secure network of Zombie Studios, a company contracted by the US Army to develop the simulation software for training pilots to use the Apache helicopter. The hackers accessed the AH-64D Apache Simulator program by breaching the Zombie Studios secure network, indicating a failure related to the embedded software layer of the cyber physical system [25726].
Communication unknown Unknown
Application TRUE The software failure incident described in the provided article [25726] was related to the application layer of the cyber physical system. The failure was due to the hacking activities conducted by the individuals involved, which included breaching computer systems, stealing data, and illegally accessing networks of various companies such as Microsoft, Valve Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Zombie Studios, and Epic Games to download pre-release versions of games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Additionally, the individuals used stolen technical details to create counterfeit Microsoft Xbox One machines, which were later sold for profit. These actions clearly indicate a failure at the application layer of the cyber physical system, as they involved exploiting vulnerabilities, unauthorized access, and fraudulent activities within the software applications and systems [25726].

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property, non-human The consequence of the software failure incident described in the provided article is related to property being impacted due to the software failure. The individuals involved in the hacking incident breached computer systems and stole data, including simulation software from the Apache attack helicopter and pre-release computer games like 'Call of Duty' [25726]. Additionally, one of the accused individuals used stolen technical details to create a counterfeit Microsoft Xbox One machine, which he later sold on eBay for $5,000 [25726]. This indicates that the software failure incident had a direct impact on people's material goods and data.
Domain entertainment, government (a) The failed system was intended to support the entertainment industry. The incident involved hacking into top-secret US Army helicopter simulator software and pre-release computer games like 'Call of Duty' on the Microsoft Xbox game system, which are popular entertainment products [25726].

Sources

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