| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The article does not provide specific information about a similar software failure incident happening again at one particular organization.
(b) The article mentions that a flaw was discovered in one of the widely used chips that are supposed to produce strong encryption, indicating a potential software failure incident affecting multiple organizations or their products and services [63921]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The article mentions a significant software failure related to design flaws in the WPA2 security scheme used for wireless networks. The flaw in the mechanism that compensates for weak signals could be compromised, potentially exposing routers, laptops, and mobile phones to attacks [63921].
(b) The article also touches upon software failures related to operation, highlighting the importance of updating devices to address vulnerabilities. It mentions that many devices may never be updated to fix the flaw in the WPA2 security scheme, emphasizing the impact of operation and maintenance procedures on system security [63921]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is primarily within_system. The vulnerability in the WPA2 security scheme, which allowed for potential information theft, was a flaw within the system itself. The flaw was not due to external factors but rather a weakness in the design of the security mechanism [63921]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident related to non-human actions is the discovery of a weakness in the WPA2 security scheme used in wireless networks. This weakness has existed for 13 years and can be exploited to compromise the security of wifi networks, potentially exposing sensitive information such as credit card numbers, emails, and photos. The flaw in WPA2 was not intentionally introduced by humans but was a vulnerability that went unnoticed for a long time [63921].
(b) The software failure incident related to human actions involves the penetration of the Russian-made Kaspersky Anti-Virus by the Israeli and Russian intelligence agencies. This breach highlights how even security software can be compromised by human actors, leading to potential access to sensitive information stored on computers protected by the antivirus program [63921]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The article mentions a flaw in one of the widely used chips that are supposed to produce random numbers for encryption, indicating a hardware-related issue [63921].
(b) The article discusses the discovery of a weakness in the WPA2 security scheme used in wireless networks, highlighting a software-related failure [63921]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious, non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles is primarily related to malicious intent. The incident involves vulnerabilities in widely used security mechanisms like WPA2, which could be exploited by attackers to steal sensitive information such as credit card numbers, emails, and photos [63921]. Additionally, the articles mention instances where intelligence agencies have penetrated anti-virus systems like Kaspersky Anti-Virus, indicating deliberate efforts to compromise security measures [63921].
(b) The articles also touch upon non-malicious factors contributing to software failures, such as the complexity of software engineering systems and the challenges in understanding and addressing vulnerabilities in various devices connected to the internet [63921]. The mention of flaws in widely used chips for encryption and the need for constant updates to address vulnerabilities in devices highlights the non-malicious aspect of software failures stemming from inherent complexities and limitations in technology [63921]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles can be attributed to poor decisions made in the design and implementation of security measures. The discovery of the vulnerability in the WPA2 security scheme, which was supposed to be uncrackable, highlights the consequences of potentially flawed decisions in creating supposedly secure systems [63921].
(b) Additionally, the incident underscores the unintended consequences of relying on complex software engineering systems that are not fully understood. The fact that the weakness in the wireless network security went undetected for 13 years points to accidental decisions or oversights in the development and maintenance of these systems [63921]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The articles mention instances of software failures due to development incompetence. For example, the discovery of a weakness in the WPA2 security scheme after 13 years highlights the complexity and hidden vulnerabilities in software engineering that even supposedly secure systems can be compromised [63921]. Additionally, the flaw found in widely used chips responsible for generating encryption keys also points to the challenges in ensuring the robustness of software components [63921].
(b) The articles also touch upon software failures occurring accidentally. The article discusses how social engineering, which exploits human vulnerabilities rather than technical flaws, can be more effective in hacking than pure software vulnerabilities [63921]. This highlights the role of human factors in software security incidents, indicating that not all failures are solely due to technical issues but can also stem from human behaviors and interactions. |
| Duration |
permanent, temporary |
The software failure incident described in the articles can be categorized as both permanent and temporary:
(a) Permanent: The article mentions a long-standing weakness in the WPA2 security scheme that went unnoticed for 13 years, indicating a permanent failure due to contributing factors introduced by all circumstances [63921].
(b) Temporary: The article also highlights that the flaw in the WPA2 security scheme can be mitigated by updating both ends of a wifi connection, suggesting a temporary failure due to contributing factors introduced by certain circumstances but not all [63921]. |
| Behaviour |
omission, other |
(a) crash: The article mentions a flaw in the WPA2 security scheme that could potentially expose practically every router, laptop, and mobile phone to attacks, leading to the loss of private information such as credit card numbers, emails, and photos [63921].
(b) omission: The article discusses the vulnerability in the WPA2 security scheme that could be exploited to steal information, indicating an omission in the system's ability to protect sensitive data [63921].
(c) timing: The article does not specifically mention any failures related to timing issues.
(d) value: The article highlights the flaw in the widely used chips that are supposed to produce strong encryption, indicating a failure in the system's ability to generate truly unbreakable encryption [63921].
(e) byzantine: The article does not mention any failures related to inconsistent responses or interactions.
(f) other: The article also mentions the potential risks posed by unprotected devices connected to the internet, emphasizing the broader implications of software vulnerabilities beyond just technical failures [63921]. |