| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to a security flaw in Xiaomi phones' Guard Provider app has happened again within the same organization. Check Point security researchers disclosed a vulnerability in Xiaomi phones due to the preinstalled Guard Provider app, which allowed hackers to exploit the flaw through a man-in-the-middle attack [83882]. Xiaomi acknowledged the issue and worked with Avast to release a patch to fix the vulnerability in their devices [83882].
(b) There is no information in the provided article about the software failure incident happening again at other organizations or with their products and services. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to the design phase. The vulnerability in Xiaomi phones was due to a security flaw in the preinstalled Guard Provider app, which was intended to be a security feature with antivirus programs. The flaw allowed hackers to insert malware into updates through a man-in-the-middle attack because Guard Provider received updates through an unsecured HTTP connection [83882]. This vulnerability was a result of a design flaw in the system development of the Guard Provider app.
(b) The software failure incident is not related to the operation phase or misuse of the system. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Xiaomi phones' security flaw falls under the within_system boundary. The vulnerability stemmed from the preinstalled Guard Provider app on the phones, which was intended to be a security feature but introduced a vulnerability due to its update process using an unsecured HTTP connection [83882]. The flaw in the software itself allowed for potential exploitation by hackers through a man-in-the-middle attack, indicating an internal system issue that needed to be addressed by Xiaomi through a patch release. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case occurred due to non-human actions. The vulnerability in Xiaomi phones' Guard Provider app, which allowed hackers to insert malware through an unsecured HTTP connection during the update process, was a result of a flaw in the software itself rather than any direct human actions [83882]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the article is related to a vulnerability in Xiaomi phones' preinstalled Guard Provider app, which is a security feature. The vulnerability stemmed from the app receiving updates through an unsecured HTTP connection, making it susceptible to a "man-in-the-middle attack" where hackers could insert malware into the updates [83882]. This vulnerability, originating in the hardware (Xiaomi phones), allowed for potential exploitation by attackers due to the insecure method of updating the security software.
(b) The software failure incident is also related to a flaw in the Guard Provider app itself, which is a software component designed to enhance security on Xiaomi phones. The flaw in the software allowed for the vulnerability to be exploited by hackers, enabling them to compromise the security of the devices by inserting malware into the updates [83882]. This software flaw in the Guard Provider app was identified and disclosed by Check Point researchers, leading to Xiaomi releasing a patch to fix the issue. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in this case is malicious. The vulnerability in Xiaomi phones' Guard Provider app was identified by Check Point researchers, who found that the app's updates were being received through an unsecured HTTP connection. This flaw could have allowed attackers on the same Wi-Fi network to insert malware into the updates through a "man-in-the-middle attack," potentially leading to data theft, installation of tracking apps, or planting ransomware [83882]. The incident involved a deliberate exploitation of the security flaw by potential attackers to compromise the phones of users. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Xiaomi phones' security flaw can be attributed to poor decisions made in the design and implementation of the Guard Provider app. The vulnerability stemmed from the app's security feature, which introduced a flaw that allowed hackers to exploit the system through a man-in-the-middle attack. The flaw was specifically related to the app receiving updates through an unsecured HTTP connection, making it susceptible to malicious interference [83882]. This poor decision in the design of the software left millions of users exposed to potential attacks, highlighting the importance of secure software development practices. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in Article 83882 can be attributed to development incompetence. The vulnerability in Xiaomi phones' Guard Provider app, which allowed hackers to insert malware through an unsecured HTTP connection, was a result of a security flaw introduced in the development process. Check Point researchers highlighted this flaw, indicating that the security feature intended to protect users actually created a backdoor for potential attacks. Xiaomi acknowledged the issue and worked with their partner Avast to release a patch to fix the flaw, indicating a need for better development practices to prevent such vulnerabilities in the future [83882].
(b) Additionally, the accidental aspect of the software failure incident can be seen in how the vulnerability was not intentionally designed but rather emerged as a side effect of the security feature. The flaw in the Guard Provider app was not a deliberate inclusion but rather a consequence of how the app received updates through an unsecured connection, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks. This accidental introduction of a vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough testing and security reviews during the development process to catch such issues before they impact users [83882]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to the Xiaomi phones' security flaw can be categorized as a temporary failure. The vulnerability stemmed from the preinstalled Guard Provider app on Xiaomi phones, which introduced a security flaw due to the app receiving updates through an unsecured HTTP connection. This flaw allowed for a potential man-in-the-middle attack where hackers could insert malware into the updates [83882]. However, Xiaomi worked with Avast to release a patch to fix the flaw, indicating that the issue was addressed and resolved, making it a temporary failure. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. [83882]
(b) omission: The vulnerability in Xiaomi phones' Guard Provider app allowed for a potential omission of performing its intended security function due to the unsecured HTTP connection used for updates. This omission could lead to malware being inserted into the updates, compromising the security of the device. [83882]
(c) timing: The software failure incident does not involve a timing issue where the system performs its intended functions too late or too early. [83882]
(d) value: The vulnerability in Xiaomi phones' Guard Provider app led to a failure in performing its intended security function correctly, allowing for the insertion of malware through updates. This incorrect behavior compromised the security of the devices. [83882]
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. [83882]
(f) other: The software failure incident in the article involves a security flaw that could be exploited by hackers through a man-in-the-middle attack, compromising the security of Xiaomi phones. This behavior could be categorized as a security vulnerability leading to a potential breach of sensitive information on the devices. [83882] |