| Recurring |
unknown |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
The article does not mention any previous similar incidents happening within the same organization (WhatsApp) or with its products and services. Therefore, there is no information available to suggest that a similar incident has occurred again at WhatsApp [51694].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
The article does not provide information about similar incidents happening at other organizations or with their products and services. Hence, there is no mention of this software failure incident occurring again at multiple organizations [51694]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to the design phase. The vulnerability in the WhatsApp application for computers was caused by the way the program handled the sending of contacts in the vCard format. This design flaw allowed hackers to send vCards containing hidden malicious programs, which could infect computers when clicked on [51694].
(b) The software failure incident in the article is also related to the operation phase. Users were at risk of electronic fraud due to the vulnerability in the WhatsApp application for computers. This vulnerability could be exploited by hackers to distribute malicious programs like ransomware, impacting the operation and security of the system [51694]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident reported in Article 51694 was within the system. The vulnerability in the WhatsApp application for computers was caused by the way the program handled the sending of contacts in the vCard format. This internal flaw allowed hackers to send vCards containing hidden malicious programs, which could infect users' computers when clicked on. The bug originated from within the system's handling of vCard data, leading to the potential risk of fraud and electronic extortion for the app's 200 million users [51694]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in the WhatsApp application was caused by a bug that created a vulnerability in the program's handling of vCard contacts. This vulnerability allowed hackers to send vCards containing malicious programs, such as ransomware, which could infect users' computers when clicked. The bug was identified by the security company Check Point, and WhatsApp promptly released a patch to address the issue [51694].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
There is no specific mention in the article about the software failure incident being caused by human actions. Therefore, it is unknown if human actions directly contributed to the vulnerability in the WhatsApp application. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to hardware. The vulnerability in the WhatsApp application for computers, as reported by Check Point, allowed hackers to distribute malicious programs like viruses or ransomware. This vulnerability was specifically present in the version of the application for computers, indicating a hardware-related issue [51694].
(b) The software failure incident is also related to software. The vulnerability in the WhatsApp application was caused by the way the program handled the sending of contacts in the vCard format. This flaw in the software allowed hackers to send vCards containing hidden malicious programs, which could infect computers when clicked. Additionally, the article mentions that the WhatsApp application itself has other vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit to obtain cell phone numbers and send malicious programs [51694]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in Article #51694 is malicious in nature. The incident involved a bug in the WhatsApp application that allowed hackers to distribute malicious programs like ransomware, which could be used to extort users by "kidnapping" their computers for ransom. The vulnerability was exploited by sending fake vCards containing hidden malicious programs, which would infect computers when clicked. Additionally, the article mentions that the vulnerability was caused by the way the program handled the sending of contacts in vCard format, providing an avenue for hackers to exploit and harm users [51694]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
(a) The software failure incident related to the WhatsApp bug was not due to poor decisions but rather a vulnerability in the way the program handled the sending of contacts in vCard format. The bug allowed hackers to send vCards containing malicious programs, leading to potential risks for users. The incident was not a result of poor decisions but rather a technical flaw in the software [51694].
(b) The software failure incident was not caused by accidental decisions but rather by a specific vulnerability in the program related to how it processed vCards, allowing for the distribution of malicious programs. The incident was more about a technical flaw in the software rather than accidental decisions [51694]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article [51694] about the WhatsApp bug affecting 200 million users. The vulnerability in the WhatsApp application for computers was caused by the way the program handled the sending of contacts in the vCard format. This mishandling allowed hackers to send vCards containing hidden malicious programs, exploiting a flaw in the software's design. The incident highlights a lack of professional competence in ensuring secure handling of data formats, leading to a vulnerability that put users at risk of electronic frauds. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article was temporary. The incident was related to a bug in the WhatsApp application for computers that allowed hackers to distribute malicious programs like ransomware. The vulnerability was identified by the security company Check Point, and WhatsApp was alerted about the issue on August 21. Subsequently, WhatsApp created a patch to fix the flaw, and users were advised to update their versions immediately to address the issue [51694]. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article is not related to a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions [51694].
(b) omission: The vulnerability in the WhatsApp software allowed hackers to distribute malicious programs through fake vCards, indicating an omission in the system's intended function of properly handling vCard data [51694].
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to timing issues where the system performs its intended functions but too late or too early [51694].
(d) value: The vulnerability in the WhatsApp software allowed hackers to send vCards containing malicious programs, leading to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly by allowing the execution of malware [51694].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident is not related to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions [51694].
(f) other: The software failure incident described in the article involves a vulnerability in the WhatsApp software that allowed hackers to exploit the system by distributing malicious programs through fake vCards, potentially compromising user security and privacy [51694]. |