Incident: Apple iOS Phishing Vulnerability Exploiting Apple ID Password Requests

Published Date: 2017-10-12

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident regarding the iPhone repeatedly requesting Apple ID passwords was reported on October 12, 2017, as per Article 64289.
System The system that failed in the software failure incident described in the article is: 1. Apple's iOS password request system [64289]
Responsible Organization 1. Apple [64289]
Impacted Organization 1. Users of iPhones and iPads were impacted by the software failure incident reported in Article 64289. [64289]
Software Causes 1. The software cause of the failure incident was the incessant requests for Apple ID passwords by iOS, which could easily be abused by any app to create convincing phishing attacks [64289].
Non-software Causes 1. User training and behavior: Users are trained to enter their Apple ID password whenever prompted by iOS, leading to a susceptibility to phishing attacks [64289].
Impacts 1. The software failure incident of iPhone repeatedly requesting Apple ID passwords without clear explanation or warning had the impact of potentially exposing users to phishing attacks by allowing attackers to craft convincing phishing pop-ups [64289]. 2. Users were at risk of being tricked into entering their Apple ID passwords into fake pop-ups that could look identical to legitimate system dialogues, leading to potential compromise of their Apple accounts and personal information [64289]. 3. The incident highlighted a security flaw in the iOS system that could be exploited by malicious apps to deceive users into providing sensitive information, showcasing the importance of user vigilance and caution when prompted for passwords [64289].
Preventions 1. Implementing a verification mechanism where users can confirm the authenticity of the password request by pressing the home button before entering the password could have prevented the incident [64289]. 2. Enhancing the visual cues or indicators in the password request pop-ups to differentiate between legitimate system alerts and potential phishing attempts could have helped users identify and avoid falling for phishing attacks [64289]. 3. Conducting stricter app review processes to ensure that rogue apps with malicious intentions do not make it onto the App Store could have mitigated the risk of such phishing attacks [64289].
Fixes 1. Implement a verification system where users can confirm the authenticity of password requests by pressing the home button before entering the password, as suggested by developer Felix Krause [64289]. 2. Enhance the visual cues or indicators in the password request pop-ups to differentiate between legitimate Apple prompts and potential phishing attempts, making it easier for users to identify and avoid falling for phishing attacks [64289].
References 1. iOS developer Felix Krause [64289]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident related to the repeated requests for Apple ID passwords on iPhones has happened before with Apple products and services. The article mentions how users are accustomed to sporadic requests for their Apple ID password on iPhones and iPads, which can be frustrating and potentially lead to security vulnerabilities [64289]. (b) The article draws a parallel between the security flaw in iOS prompting for Apple ID passwords and past issues faced by other software developers, such as Microsoft's User Account Control feature in Windows Vista. It discusses the concept of "security overload" where users may become overwhelmed by security features, leading to potential insecurity. This indicates that similar incidents or challenges related to security features and user interactions have been faced by multiple organizations in the software industry [64289].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article [64289]. The article discusses a security flaw in iOS where users are prompted to enter their Apple ID password in various scenarios, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate prompts and phishing attacks. This flaw is attributed to the way Apple's standard alerts look identical to those that normal developers can present, allowing for the potential abuse by any app to create convincing phishing pop-ups. This flaw in the design of the system's password prompts introduces a security risk for users. (b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be inferred from the article [64289]. The article mentions that users are trained to enter their Apple ID password whenever prompted by iOS, even if the prompts appear in random apps or during different activities. This behavior of users to comply with password requests without verifying their legitimacy can be considered a contributing factor introduced by the operation or misuse of the system. Users' tendency to quickly enter passwords without proper verification could lead to falling victim to phishing attacks exploiting the flaw in the system's design.
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident discussed in the article is related to a security flaw within the iOS system on iPhones and iPads. The incessant requests for Apple ID passwords that can be easily mimicked by phishing attacks are a result of how the system prompts users for their credentials within various contexts, including random apps like iCloud, GameCenter, or in-app purchases [64289]. This security vulnerability originates from within the system design and how it handles user authentication requests.
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident related to non-human actions in the provided article is the security flaw in iOS that allows for convincing phishing attacks to be crafted due to the design of the system prompting users to enter their Apple ID password without clear context or warning [64289]. (b) The software failure incident related to human actions in the article is the potential risk created by users being trained to enter their Apple ID password whenever prompted, making them vulnerable to phishing attacks that mimic legitimate system dialogues [64289].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The article does not mention any software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware. Hence, the information about a software failure incident related to hardware is unknown. (b) The software failure incident discussed in the article is related to a security flaw in Apple's iOS that could allow attackers to craft convincing phishing attacks by repeatedly requesting users' Apple ID passwords [64289]. This failure is clearly attributed to contributing factors originating in the software itself.
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident described in the article is related to a malicious objective. The incident involves a security flaw in iOS that could potentially allow attackers to craft convincing phishing attacks by repeatedly requesting users' Apple ID passwords through fake pop-up alerts that look identical to Apple's standard alerts. The developer who discovered this flaw, Felix Krause, highlighted the risk of users being tricked into entering their passwords into these phishing pop-ups, which could lead to unauthorized access to their accounts [64289].
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions The intent of the software failure incident discussed in the article is related to poor_decisions. The incident involving the iPhone repeatedly requesting Apple ID passwords was highlighted as a security flaw that could potentially lead to phishing attacks. The design choice of displaying password prompts in various contexts without clear differentiation between legitimate system alerts and potential phishing attempts was criticized as a poor decision that could mislead users into entering sensitive information unknowingly [64289].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence, accidental (a) The article discusses a security flaw related to the iPhone repeatedly requesting the Apple ID password, which could potentially lead to phishing attacks. This issue can be attributed to a lack of professional competence in the development of the iOS system, as the pop-up alerts requesting the password can be easily replicated by any app, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate requests and phishing attempts. This highlights a failure due to contributing factors introduced by the development organization [64289]. (b) The accidental aspect of the software failure incident is evident in the unintended consequences of the design flaw in the iOS system. The article mentions that users are trained to enter their Apple ID password whenever prompted by iOS, without realizing that these prompts could potentially be phishing attacks. This accidental introduction of a security vulnerability could lead to users unknowingly compromising their credentials, emphasizing the accidental nature of the failure [64289].
Duration temporary The software failure incident described in the article [64289] can be categorized as a temporary failure. The article discusses a security flaw in iOS that allows for convincing phishing attacks by displaying fake Apple ID password prompts within apps. This flaw is due to the way iOS handles password requests, making it possible for rogue apps to mimic legitimate prompts and deceive users. The incident is temporary in nature as it is caused by specific circumstances related to how the operating system handles password requests and can be mitigated by user awareness and actions like hitting the home button to verify the authenticity of the prompt.
Behaviour value, other (a) crash: The article does not mention any instances of the system losing state and not performing any of its intended functions. (b) omission: The article does not mention any instances of the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). (c) timing: The article does not mention any instances of the system performing its intended functions correctly, but too late or too early. (d) value: The software failure incident described in the article is related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. Specifically, the article discusses how the iPhone's repeated requests for Apple ID passwords could be exploited by attackers to create convincing phishing attacks, leading users to enter their credentials unknowingly [64289]. (e) byzantine: The article does not mention any instances of the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. (f) other: The other behavior described in the article is related to the security flaw in the system that could potentially lead to phishing attacks. The flaw allows for the presentation of fake pop-ups that look identical to legitimate Apple alerts, making it difficult for users to distinguish between genuine requests and phishing attempts [64289].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property, theoretical_consequence The consequence of the software failure incident discussed in the article is primarily related to the potential harm and security risks posed by the flaw in the Apple iOS system. The article highlights the security flaw in the iOS system that could allow attackers to craft convincing phishing attacks by repeatedly requesting users' Apple ID passwords without clear explanation or warning [64289]. This flaw could lead to users unknowingly entering their credentials in fake pop-ups, potentially compromising their personal information and security. While the article does not mention any actual instances of harm or death resulting from this specific software failure incident, the focus is on the security implications and the risk of phishing attacks.
Domain information (a) The software failure incident discussed in the article is related to the information industry. The incident involves a security flaw in the iPhone's operating system that could potentially lead to phishing attacks by tricking users into entering their Apple ID passwords [64289]. This incident highlights the importance of security in the production and distribution of information through digital devices like smartphones.

Sources

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