| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
The article mentions that the Shadow Brokers, a hacking group, have threatened to leak a new wave of hacking tools stolen from the US National Security Agency (NSA) [59304]. This incident is reminiscent of a previous event where the Shadow Brokers released NSA tools that were used to spread the WannaCry ransomware attack through the NHS and across the world. The group claims to have new tools and vulnerabilities in newer software, including Microsoft's Windows 10, which was unaffected by the initial attack [59304].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
The article does not provide specific information about the software failure incident happening again at multiple organizations. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be attributed to the development of hacking tools and vulnerabilities by the hacking group known as the Shadow Brokers. They claimed to have stolen tools from the US National Security Agency (NSA) and threatened to release a new wave of hacking tools targeting newer software, including Microsoft's Windows 10 [59304].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the WannaCry ransomware attack that spread through the NHS and across the world. This attack was facilitated by the NSA tools released by the Shadow Brokers, highlighting the operational impact of cyber weapons falling into the wrong hands and being used for criminal purposes [59304]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident reported in the articles is primarily due to contributing factors that originate from within the system. The incident involves the hacking group known as the Shadow Brokers who claimed responsibility for releasing NSA tools that were used to spread the WannaCry ransomware attack [59304]. The group threatened to leak a new wave of hacking tools they claim to have stolen from the US National Security Agency, indicating that the failure originated from within the system itself. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to the actions of the hacking group known as the Shadow Brokers. They claimed to have stolen hacking tools and vulnerabilities from the US National Security Agency (NSA) and threatened to release these tools, potentially targeting software such as Microsoft's Windows 10 and other systems. The Shadow Brokers' actions in releasing these tools and exploits led to the spread of the WannaCry ransomware attack, causing a significant software failure incident [59304].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
The software failure incident can also be attributed to human actions, specifically the actions of the Shadow Brokers who intentionally released stolen NSA tools and vulnerabilities to facilitate the WannaCry ransomware attack. Additionally, the cybersecurity community and security researchers have been analyzing the intentions and actions of the Shadow Brokers, indicating human involvement in the creation and dissemination of the tools that led to the software failure incident [59304]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The articles do not provide information about the software failure incident occurring due to hardware issues [59304].
(b) The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to software vulnerabilities and exploits being used by hacking groups like the Shadow Brokers to carry out cyber attacks, such as the WannaCry ransomware attack. The Shadow Brokers claimed to have stolen hacking tools and vulnerabilities from the US National Security Agency (NSA) and threatened to release them, potentially targeting software like Microsoft's Windows 10 and other systems. This incident highlights the risks associated with software vulnerabilities and the potential for malicious actors to exploit them for cyber attacks [59304]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involves a hacking group known as the Shadow Brokers who claimed responsibility for releasing NSA tools that were used to spread the WannaCry ransomware attack. The group threatened to leak a new wave of hacking tools stolen from the US National Security Agency, targeting vulnerabilities in newer software including Microsoft's Windows 10. The Shadow Brokers indicated their intention to launch a monthly subscription service to release stolen hacking tools to subscribers unless a lump sum payment is made, suggesting a profit motive behind their actions [59304]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
[a] The intent of the software failure incident:
- The hacking group known as the Shadow Brokers threatened to leak a new wave of hacking tools they claimed to have stolen from the US National Security Agency [59304].
- The Shadow Brokers mentioned in a blog post that they had more stolen tools and vulnerabilities in newer software, including Microsoft's Windows 10 [59304].
- They announced a new monthly subscription model where they would release tools to subscribers each month or would "go dark permanently" if the "responsible party" bought all the tools for a lump sum [59304].
- The Shadow Brokers claimed they were not interested in bug bounties paid by software firms or selling to "cyber thugs" but were focused on challenging adversaries like the Equation Group believed to be operated by the NSA [59304]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, unknown |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as it discusses the hacking group Shadow Brokers threatening to leak a new wave of hacking tools stolen from the US National Security Agency (NSA) [59304]. This incident highlights a significant failure in the development and security practices of the NSA, indicating a lack of professional competence in safeguarding their tools and vulnerabilities. The fact that the Shadow Brokers were able to obtain and potentially exploit these tools points towards a failure in ensuring the security and integrity of sensitive software assets.
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident described in the articles is more aligned with a temporary failure rather than a permanent one. The incident involves the threat of leaking new hacking tools by the Shadow Brokers, which could potentially lead to further cyber attacks and security breaches [59304]. This indicates that the failure is due to contributing factors introduced by certain circumstances (i.e., the actions of the hacking group) rather than all circumstances. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, timing, value, byzantine, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident related to the Shadow Brokers involves a potential crash scenario where the system may lose its state and fail to perform its intended functions. This is evident from the threat posed by the Shadow Brokers to release new hacking tools and vulnerabilities stolen from the US National Security Agency, potentially leading to widespread cyber attacks like the WannaCry ransomware incident ([59304]).
(b) omission: The incident also relates to a potential omission scenario where the system may omit to perform its intended functions at instances. This is indicated by the Shadow Brokers' claim of having exploits for various software and systems, including Microsoft's Windows 10, which could be targeted in the future. The omission of security measures or vulnerabilities in software could lead to cyber threats ([59304]).
(c) timing: The software failure incident may involve a timing issue where the system performs its intended functions, but either too late or too early. This can be seen in the context of the Shadow Brokers' announcement of a new monthly subscription model to release hacking tools and data dumps. The timing of these releases could impact the cybersecurity landscape and the response of security agencies and companies ([59304]).
(d) value: The incident could also relate to a value scenario where the system performs its intended functions incorrectly. This is highlighted by the potential misuse of hacking tools and vulnerabilities by the Shadow Brokers, leading to cyber attacks and security breaches. The incorrect use of such tools could result in significant harm to individuals, organizations, and nations ([59304]).
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident may exhibit a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. This can be inferred from the Shadow Brokers' actions of threatening to leak sensitive data and hacking tools, creating uncertainty and potential chaos in the cybersecurity domain. The inconsistent responses and interactions of the group could complicate efforts to mitigate cyber threats ([59304]).
(f) other: In addition to the above behaviors, the software failure incident may involve other behaviors not explicitly categorized in the options provided. This could include the potential disruption of trust between software firms, security agencies, and the public due to the ongoing threats and leaks by the Shadow Brokers. The incident raises questions about the disclosure of vulnerabilities, the role of intelligence agencies in cybersecurity, and the need for enhanced protection against cyber threats ([59304]). |