| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the exposure of Facebook user phone numbers in an unsecured database has happened again at the same organization, Facebook. The incident involved a database containing user phone numbers being found online, exposing about 220 million users' information. This incident was similar to a previous one where a database with the same type of data was discovered and subsequently taken down [89546].
(b) The incident also highlights a broader issue of unsecured databases being exposed online, affecting multiple organizations that store sensitive data. The exposure of such databases can lead to risks for users, including scam phone calls and fraud. Organizations are increasingly moving their databases online without adequate security measures, making them vulnerable to exploitation by individuals with malicious intent [89546]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the exposure of an unsecured cloud server containing a database of Facebook user phone numbers. The incident was due to the database being found online, exposing sensitive user information. This failure highlights the importance of securely developing and maintaining systems to prevent unauthorized access to data [89546].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the misuse of the exposed database. The unsecured database allowed for the scraping of user data, leading to potential risks such as scam phone calls and fraud. This misuse of the system's data highlights the need for proper operation and user privacy protection measures to prevent such incidents [89546]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the unsecured cloud server containing a database of Facebook user phone numbers can be categorized as within_system. The incident was a result of the database being left unprotected and publicly accessible, indicating a failure in securing the system internally [89546]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to non-human actions. The incident involved an unsecured cloud server containing a database of Facebook user phone numbers that was found online by a cybersecurity researcher, Elliott Murray [89546]. The database was accessible to anyone with a browser and the correct IP address, indicating a lack of proper security measures in place. This non-human factor of inadequate security allowed the database to be exposed, potentially putting users at risk of scam phone calls and fraud.
(b) Human actions also played a role in this software failure incident. The lack of expertise in securely moving databases online by many organizations was highlighted as a contributing factor. Additionally, the incident involved scraping of user data from Facebook and Instagram features by companies like Chtrbox, indicating human actions leading to unauthorized access and exposure of user information [89546]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The incident reported in the article does not indicate any hardware-related issues that contributed to the software failure. It primarily focuses on the exposure of a database containing Facebook user phone numbers due to lack of proper security measures [89546].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software failure incident in the article is primarily attributed to the lack of proper security measures in the software system, leading to the exposure of the database containing Facebook user phone numbers. The incident involved an unsecured cloud server and a publicly accessible database, highlighting a software-related failure in ensuring data protection [89546]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in this case is considered malicious. The incident involved an unsecured cloud server containing a database of Facebook user phone numbers that was found online by a cybersecurity researcher. The database was accessed by unauthorized individuals, potentially exposing users to risks such as scam phone calls and fraud [89546]. The exposure of this sensitive data was not accidental but rather a result of the database being left unsecured intentionally or due to negligence, allowing malicious actors to access and potentially misuse the information. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the unsecured cloud server containing a database of Facebook user phone numbers appears to be a result of poor decisions. The incident occurred because the database was left unsecured online, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive user information. The lack of proper security measures and expertise in securing the database led to the exposure of user data, putting users at risk of scams and fraud [89546]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as it highlights the issue of unsecured databases being left exposed online, leading to sensitive user data being accessible to anyone with the correct IP address. The article mentions that many organizations lack the expertise to securely move their databases online, resulting in data that should be protected being easily accessed [89546].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also present in the article. The exposure of the Facebook user phone numbers database was accidental, as it was found online by a cybersecurity researcher, Elliott Murray, who stumbled upon it on September 5. The database was not intended to be publicly accessible, indicating an accidental exposure of sensitive data [89546]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to the unsecured cloud server containing a database of Facebook user phone numbers can be considered a temporary failure. The database was found online by a cybersecurity researcher on September 5 [89546]. However, as of September 10, the database is no longer online, indicating that the failure was temporary and the database was eventually removed or secured. |
| Behaviour |
other |
(a) crash: The incident described in the articles does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. The issue here is related to the exposure of a database containing Facebook user phone numbers, which is a security breach rather than a system crash [89546].
(b) omission: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). The issue here is related to the exposure of sensitive data rather than a failure to perform functions [89546].
(c) timing: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions correctly but too late or too early. The issue here is related to the exposure of a database containing Facebook user phone numbers, which is a security breach rather than a timing issue [89546].
(d) value: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. The issue here is related to the exposure of sensitive data rather than the system performing functions incorrectly [89546].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The issue here is related to the exposure of a database containing Facebook user phone numbers, which is a security breach rather than a byzantine behavior [89546].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in this case is related to a security breach where an unsecured cloud server containing a database of Facebook user phone numbers was found online, potentially exposing users to risks such as scam phone calls and fraud. The incident highlights the importance of securing databases to protect sensitive information [89546]. |