| Recurring |
unknown |
(a) The software failure incident related to the security vulnerability in GoPro cameras, where criminals could take control of the cameras due to weak passwords, has not been explicitly mentioned to have happened again within the same organization or with its products and services in the provided article [36270].
(b) The article does not mention any specific instances of similar incidents happening at other organizations or with their products and services. Therefore, there is no information provided about this option in the given article [36270]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the security vulnerability of GoPro cameras highlighted by Pen Test Partners. The incident occurred due to the ease with which criminals could take control of the cameras by exploiting weak passwords set by users. The attack demonstrated by Ken Munro involved guessing simple passwords using software that could crack them within seconds. This design flaw in the system allowed unauthorized access to the cameras, enabling spying on users and unauthorized video streaming [36270].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is demonstrated by the misuse of the GoPro cameras. Even after users turned off the cameras, a wireless connection could unknowingly remain active, allowing attackers to "wake" the device remotely, disable recording lights, and stream video to their own devices. This misuse of the cameras, where the wireless connection was not fully disabled as intended by the users, led to the security breach and unauthorized access [36270]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident described in the article is primarily within the system. The vulnerability exploited by the security firm to take control of GoPro cameras was related to weak passwords set by users, allowing easy access to the cameras. The attack demonstrated by Pen Test Partners involved guessing simple passwords using software, intercepting and cracking the encrypted Wi-fi key, and then gaining control of the camera to spy on users [36270]. These vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the system's security protocols and user authentication mechanisms contributed to the software failure incident from within the system. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the article was primarily due to non-human actions. The security firm Pen Test Partners demonstrated how they could gain access to a GoPro camera by exploiting the vulnerability of simple passwords that could be easily guessed by software within seconds. The attack did not require direct human intervention but rather relied on the weakness of the password system and the ability of software to crack it. Additionally, the demonstration showed how the camera's wireless connection could be left on even after the power button was pressed to turn it off, allowing for unauthorized access without human involvement [36270].
(b) However, human actions also played a role in this software failure incident. Users setting simple and easily guessable passwords contributed to the vulnerability exploited by the security firm. The choice of weak passwords by users made it easier for the software to crack the passwords and gain unauthorized access to the GoPro cameras. The article mentions that the software used by Pen Test Partners to guess passwords was freely available on the internet and could quickly crack passwords like "Sausages" in less than a minute. Therefore, the human action of selecting weak passwords directly contributed to the security breach demonstrated by the security firm [36270]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The incident involved a security vulnerability in GoPro cameras that allowed criminals to take control of the cameras, potentially spying on users [36270].
- The attack demonstrated by Pen Test Partners exploited the way the cameras were set up, allowing for unauthorized access even when the device appeared to be turned off [36270].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software failure in this incident was primarily due to weak password security practices by users, making it easy for attackers to guess passwords and gain unauthorized access to the cameras [36270].
- The software used by Pen Test Partners to guess passwords was able to crack the password "Sausages" in less than a minute, highlighting the vulnerability of weak passwords in the software system [36270]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious in nature. The incident involved a security firm demonstrating how criminals could easily take control of GoPro cameras to spy on their owners by exploiting vulnerabilities in the system, such as weak passwords and the ability to remotely access and control the camera without the user's knowledge or consent [36270]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions:
- The software failure incident involving GoPro cameras being vulnerable to hacking and unauthorized access was primarily due to poor decisions related to setting simple and easily guessable passwords by users [36270].
- The security firm demonstrated how criminals could easily take control of GoPro cameras by guessing weak passwords, highlighting the poor decision-making by users in choosing secure passwords [36270].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental_decisions:
- The software failure incident did not involve accidental decisions but rather deliberate actions by criminals to exploit the security vulnerabilities in GoPro cameras [36270].
- The incident was a result of intentional actions taken by hackers to gain unauthorized access to the cameras, rather than accidental decisions leading to the failure [36270]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as it highlights how criminals could easily take control of GoPro cameras due to users setting simple passwords that could be guessed by software within seconds. The security firm demonstrated how they could gain access to a Hero4 camera that appeared to be turned off and could secretly watch or eavesdrop on users, emphasizing the lack of strong security measures in place [36270].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is seen in the article where it is mentioned that the wireless connection on the GoPro camera can unknowingly be left on after the power button is pressed to turn it off. This accidental oversight could potentially lead to unauthorized access and spying on users without their knowledge [36270]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident described in the article [36270] can be categorized as a temporary failure. The incident involved a security vulnerability in GoPro cameras that allowed unauthorized access to the devices by exploiting weak passwords set by users. The attack demonstrated by Pen Test Partners showed how criminals could easily take control of the cameras, even when they appeared to be turned off, by guessing simple passwords within seconds and intercepting the encrypted Wi-fi key. This incident was temporary in nature as it was caused by specific circumstances related to weak password practices and security vulnerabilities in the camera's setup, rather than being a permanent failure inherent to the software itself. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article can be related to a crash as the security firm demonstrated how they could gain access to a GoPro camera that appeared to be turned off, and then manipulate its functions such as turning off recording lights and video-streaming to a mobile phone [36270].
(b) omission: The incident can also be related to omission as the software failed to perform its intended function of securing the camera and preventing unauthorized access. This was due to victims setting simple passwords that could be easily guessed by software within seconds, leading to potential spying on users [36270].
(c) timing: The timing aspect is not explicitly mentioned in the article.
(d) value: The incident can be related to a value failure as the software allowed for the incorrect performance of its intended function, which is to secure the camera and prevent unauthorized access. This was evident when the software failed to enforce stronger password requirements, leading to vulnerabilities [36270].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not exhibit characteristics of a byzantine failure.
(f) other: The other behavior exhibited in this software failure incident is the unauthorized manipulation of the camera's functions by exploiting security vulnerabilities. This unauthorized control allowed for actions such as secretly watching or eavesdropping on users, deleting existing videos, and video-streaming without the user's knowledge or consent [36270]. |