| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to vulnerabilities in fax machines affecting corporate networks happened at Hewlett-Packard (HP). Researchers found a common issue known as a "stack overflow" in the Officejet line of fax-capable all-in-one printers from HP, which could be exploited by sending a malicious fax [74624].
(b) The software failure incident related to vulnerabilities in fax machines affecting corporate networks could potentially impact multiple organizations that use fax machines for communication. The lack of encryption and proper implementation of the fax protocol makes it a potential attack vector for hackers targeting various organizations beyond just HP [74624]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the vulnerability discovered in the Officejet line of fax-capable all-in-one printers from Hewlett-Packard. Researchers found a common issue known as a "stack overflow," which is a design flaw where the structure that stores information about a running software program overloads, causing it to crash [74624].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is highlighted by the fact that fax data is sent with no cryptographic protections, making it insecure. Additionally, the lack of authentication checks in the fax protocol allows for the easy transmission of malicious faxes, leading to potential exploitation of the system during its operation [74624]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is within_system. The vulnerability in the fax machines and printers, specifically the HP Officejet line, was due to a common issue known as a "stack overflow" within the software. The researchers found that they could exploit bugs in faxes to gain access to private networks by sending a malicious fax to a vulnerable machine, causing it to crash and allowing attackers to infiltrate the network [74624].
(b) The software failure incident can also be attributed to outside_system factors. The vulnerability in the fax machines and printers was a result of the outdated and insecure protocols used in fax technology, which have not been updated for the past 30 years. Additionally, the lack of encryption in fax data transmission and the confusing documentation of the fax protocol contributed to the vulnerability, making it easier for attackers to exploit the system from outside [74624]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the article was primarily due to non-human actions. The vulnerability in fax machines, specifically in the Officejet line of fax-capable all-in-one printers from HP, was exploited by sending a malicious fax with data that triggered a "stack overflow" issue in the software [74624].
(b) Human actions also played a role in this software failure incident. The researchers intentionally crafted a malicious fax with data to exploit the vulnerability in the fax machines, demonstrating how an attacker could infiltrate a network by sending a malicious fax to a publicly available fax number [74624]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to hardware. The vulnerability in fax machines, specifically in the Officejet line of fax-capable all-in-one printers from HP, was exploited by the researchers due to a hardware issue known as a "stack overflow." This hardware issue occurs when the structure that stores information about a running software program overloads, causing it to crash [74624].
(b) The software failure incident is also related to software. The vulnerability in the fax protocol, which is the industry standard description of how the technology should be incorporated into products, was highlighted by the researchers. They suspected that the fax protocol was likely implemented improperly in many devices due to its confusing documentation, leading to software vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers [74624]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious in nature. The incident involved exploiting vulnerabilities in fax machines to gain access to corporate networks with the intent to harm the system. The researchers crafted a malicious fax with data that would exploit a bug in vulnerable machines, allowing attackers to infiltrate internal networks. Additionally, attackers could embed additional exploits into the malicious fax to gain deeper access into a company's network [74624]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the vulnerability in fax machines and network printers can be attributed to poor decisions made in the design and implementation of the technology. The Check Point researchers discovered that the fax protocol, which has remained unchanged for the past 30 years, lacks proper security measures such as encryption. Additionally, the researchers found that the fax protocol was documented in a confusing manner, leading to potential improper implementations in devices [74624]. These poor decisions in the design and implementation of the fax technology contributed to the security vulnerability exploited by the researchers. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident in the article was primarily due to development incompetence. The Check Point researchers discovered a vulnerability in HP Officejet printers related to the fax component. They found a common issue known as a "stack overflow" in the fax protocol implementation, which caused the software program to crash [74624].
(b) The software failure incident was not accidental but rather a result of intentional exploitation of the vulnerability in the fax protocol by malicious attackers. The attackers crafted a malicious fax to exploit the bug in the vulnerable HP Officejet printers, demonstrating a deliberate and targeted attack [74624]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is more of a permanent nature. The vulnerability in fax machines, specifically in the Officejet line of fax-capable all-in-one printers from HP, was a result of a common issue known as a "stack overflow." This type of issue causes the structure that stores information about a running software program to overload, leading to a crash. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability strategically to gain more access or privileges on a system [74624]. This indicates that the failure was due to contributing factors introduced by all circumstances, making it a permanent issue. |
| Behaviour |
crash, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article involves a crash. The vulnerability in the fax protocol allowed attackers to exploit a bug in the HP Officejet printers, specifically a "stack overflow" issue, which caused the software program to overload and crash [74624].
(b) omission: There is no specific mention of the software failure incident being related to omission in the articles.
(c) timing: There is no specific mention of the software failure incident being related to timing in the articles.
(d) value: The software failure incident is not related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly.
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident is not related to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in this case is related to a vulnerability in the fax protocol that allowed attackers to exploit a bug in the HP Officejet printers, leading to a crash due to a "stack overflow" issue [74624]. |