| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to a security breach at Dropbox where hackers accessed usernames and passwords from third party sites and used them to get into Dropbox users' accounts. This incident led to spam emails being sent to users. Dropbox took steps to enhance security controls, such as implementing two-factor authentication and new mechanisms to identify suspicious activity, to prevent a repeat occurrence [13332].
(b) The article mentions that Dropbox's security breach is reminiscent of LinkedIn's mega-password leak in June, indicating that similar incidents have occurred at other organizations as well [13332]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be attributed to the fact that hackers accessed usernames and passwords from third party sites and then used them to get into Dropbox users' accounts. This breach occurred due to stolen passwords from other websites being used to sign in to Dropbox accounts, as well as an employee's account being accessed improperly, leading to spam emails being sent out [13332].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be seen in the misuse of user passwords and accounts by hackers who gained unauthorized access to Dropbox accounts. This misuse of the system's operation led to spam emails being sent out to users, impacting a significant number of European users [13332]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident in this case was primarily within the system. Hackers accessed usernames and passwords from third party sites and used them to gain unauthorized access to Dropbox users' accounts. Additionally, a stolen password was used to access an employee Dropbox account, leading to the spam emails being sent out. Dropbox took steps such as implementing two-factor authentication and new security controls within their system to prevent a repeat of such incidents in the future [13332].
(b) outside_system: The contributing factors that originated from outside the system were the hackers who obtained usernames and passwords from third party sites. These external factors led to the breach within the Dropbox system, highlighting the importance of securing user credentials and being vigilant against external threats [13332]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case occurred due to non-human actions, specifically hackers accessing usernames and passwords from third party sites and using them to gain unauthorized access to Dropbox users' accounts. This breach was not directly caused by human actions within the Dropbox company itself but rather by external malicious actors exploiting vulnerabilities in the system [13332]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The incident of hackers accessing Dropbox users' accounts was due to stolen usernames and passwords from other websites, which were then used to gain unauthorized access to Dropbox accounts [13332].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to the security vulnerability in Dropbox's system that allowed hackers to exploit stolen credentials to access user accounts [13332]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in Article 13332 was malicious in nature. Hackers accessed usernames and passwords from third party sites and then used them to gain unauthorized access to Dropbox users' accounts. This unauthorized access led to the sending of spam emails about online casinos and gambling sites to the affected users. Additionally, a stolen password was used to access an employee Dropbox account containing sensitive information, further indicating malicious intent [13332]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Dropbox hack can be attributed to poor decisions made by the hackers who accessed usernames and passwords from third party sites and then used them to gain unauthorized access to Dropbox users' accounts. This breach was a result of the hackers exploiting stolen credentials from other websites to compromise Dropbox accounts, leading to the distribution of spam emails [13332]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in the article was not attributed to development incompetence. Instead, it was due to hackers accessing usernames and passwords from third party sites and using them to gain unauthorized access to Dropbox users' accounts [13332].
(b) The software failure incident in the article was accidental in nature. It occurred because hackers were able to exploit stolen usernames and passwords to access Dropbox accounts, leading to spam emails being sent out [13332]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident reported in Article 13332 was temporary. The incident involved hackers accessing usernames and passwords from third party sites and using them to gain unauthorized access to a small number of Dropbox accounts. Dropbox took immediate action by contacting affected users, helping them protect their accounts, implementing additional security controls, and recommending users to avoid using the same password on multiple sites to mitigate the risk of similar incidents in the future [13332]. |
| Behaviour |
value, other |
(a) crash: The incident reported in the article does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. Instead, it involves unauthorized access to user accounts due to stolen usernames and passwords [Article 13332].
(b) omission: The incident does not involve the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). It is primarily about unauthorized access and spam emails being sent due to compromised accounts [Article 13332].
(c) timing: The incident is not related to the system performing its intended functions too late or too early. It is more about the unauthorized access and misuse of user account information [Article 13332].
(d) value: The failure in this incident is related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly, as unauthorized access led to the compromise of user accounts and the sending of spam emails [Article 13332].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not exhibit a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. It is more straightforward in terms of unauthorized access and misuse of user information [Article 13332].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in this case is primarily related to a security breach caused by hackers accessing usernames and passwords from third party sites and using them to gain unauthorized access to Dropbox user accounts, leading to the sending of spam emails. The incident highlights the importance of securing user credentials and the potential risks associated with password reuse across multiple sites [Article 13332]. |