| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the data breach at Facebook is not explicitly mentioned to have happened again within the same organization in the provided article [76506].
(b) The article does mention that the vulnerability in Facebook's token system had existed since July 2017, and Facebook has not ruled out the possibility that smaller attacks on its token system went undetected before September. This suggests that similar incidents related to the vulnerability in the token system may have occurred before at Facebook [76506]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the Facebook data breach incident. The breach occurred due to hackers being able to exploit a vulnerability that existed in Facebook's system since July 2017. This vulnerability allowed attackers to access personal information from 30 million accounts by stealing access tokens. The attackers used a series of seed accounts to compromise friends' accounts and then expanded their reach to amass a group of 400,000 compromised accounts before targeting the additional 30 million accounts [Article 76506].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be observed in the Facebook data breach incident as well. The breach was detected by Facebook after noticing a spike in unusual activity on September 14, and by September 25, they identified it as an attack. Two days later, Facebook took action to plug the hole and reset users' tokens to prevent further access by the attackers. This indicates that the breach was a result of the operation of the system, as the attackers were able to exploit a vulnerability in the system's operation to gain unauthorized access to user data [Article 76506]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident, in this case, the data breach affecting 30 million Facebook accounts, was primarily due to contributing factors that originated from within the system. The attackers were able to exploit a vulnerability in Facebook's system that allowed them to steal access tokens and access personal information from user accounts [76506].
(b) outside_system: While the attack itself was facilitated by vulnerabilities within Facebook's system, the hackers themselves were external actors who initiated the breach from outside the system. The attackers used a series of seed accounts to target friends and friends of friends, eventually compromising 400,000 accounts and stealing access tokens for an additional 30 million accounts [76506]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurred due to non-human actions, specifically a data breach caused by hackers gaining unauthorized access to Facebook accounts. The attackers were able to exploit a vulnerability in Facebook's system, allowing them to access personal information of millions of users without human participation in introducing the contributing factors [76506].
(b) The software failure incident also involved human actions as Facebook had to take steps to address the breach caused by the hackers. Facebook's response included identifying the attack, plugging the security hole, resetting users' tokens, and creating a security notice page for users to check if their accounts were impacted. Additionally, Facebook's VP of Product Management, Guy Rosen, provided updates and information about the breach to the public [76506]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The article does not mention any specific hardware-related issues contributing to the data breach incident reported by Facebook [76506].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software failure incident reported by Facebook was due to hackers being able to exploit vulnerabilities in Facebook's software systems, allowing them to access personal information of millions of accounts [76506]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was malicious. Hackers were able to access personal information from 30 million Facebook accounts by exploiting a vulnerability in the system. The attackers used a series of seed accounts to compromise friends' accounts and then friends of friends, eventually amassing a group of 400,000 compromised accounts. They were able to steal access tokens for an additional 30 million accounts before being stopped [Article 76506]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Facebook data breach can be attributed to poor decisions made by the attackers who exploited a vulnerability in Facebook's system. The attackers used a series of seed accounts to target friends, then friends of friends, eventually compromising 400,000 accounts and stealing access tokens for an additional 30 million accounts [Article 76506]. This strategy of exploiting the network of connections to gain unauthorized access demonstrates a deliberate and calculated approach by the attackers, indicating poor decisions on their part.
(b) The software failure incident can also be linked to accidental decisions or unintended consequences. Facebook first noticed unusual activity on September 14 and identified it as an attack by September 25. The company took action to plug the hole and reset users' tokens by September 27, preventing further access by the attackers [Article 76506]. The incident highlights the unintended consequences of overlooking vulnerabilities in the system, leading to the exploitation by malicious actors. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the Facebook data breach incident. The vulnerability that led to the breach had existed since July 2017, indicating a lack of professional competence in identifying and addressing security flaws promptly [76506].
(b) The accidental nature of the software failure incident is highlighted by the fact that Facebook first noticed unusual activity on 14 September, but it took them until the 25th to identify it as an attack. This delay in recognizing the attack could be considered accidental, as it allowed the hackers to continue their activities for an extended period before being stopped [76506]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident reported in the article was temporary. The incident was due to contributing factors introduced by certain circumstances, specifically a data breach that occurred in September 2018. Facebook first noticed unusual activity on September 14th, identified it as an attack by the 25th, and took action to plug the hole and reset users' tokens by the 27th, preventing further access by the attackers [Article 76506]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, timing, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the Facebook data breach can be categorized as a crash. The attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook's system, leading to a breach where they were able to access personal information from millions of accounts. This breach resulted in the system losing control and failing to protect the data of the affected users [76506].
(b) omission: The incident can also be classified as an omission failure. Facebook failed to prevent the attackers from accessing personal information from the accounts, omitting to perform its intended function of safeguarding user data [76506].
(c) timing: The timing of the incident can be considered a factor in the failure. The attackers were able to exploit the vulnerability in Facebook's system for an extended period, starting from July 2017 until the breach was discovered in September 2018. This delayed detection and response contributed to the impact of the incident [76506].
(d) value: The software failure incident can be attributed to a value failure. The attackers gained unauthorized access to personal information stored on Facebook, resulting in the system performing its intended functions incorrectly by allowing the theft of user data [76506].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not align with a byzantine failure, as there is no mention of inconsistent responses or interactions within the system during the breach [76506].
(f) other: The other behavior exhibited in this software failure incident is a security breach. The attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook's system, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive user data. This breach compromised the security and privacy of millions of users, highlighting a significant security flaw in the system [76506]. |