| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the vulnerability of smart speakers to lasers has happened at multiple organizations. The incident affected Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri [92135]. The researchers also tested this method on devices like the iPhone XR, Samsung Galaxy S9, and Google Pixel 2 [92135]. The researchers informed Amazon, Apple, Google, Ford, and Tesla about this potential security issue [92135]. Google and Amazon have responded by stating that they are closely reviewing the research and engaging with the researchers to understand their work [92135]. Apple, Ford, and Tesla did not offer comments or respond to requests for comment [92135]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design |
(a) The software failure incident in this case is related to the design phase. Researchers discovered a vulnerability in smart speakers such as Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri, where they could be taken over by hitting the devices' microphones with beams of light. This vulnerability was due to the fact that microphones also react to light aimed directly at them, in addition to sound. The incident was a result of a design flaw in the smart speakers that allowed the microphones to be tricked into making electrical signals as if they were hearing someone's voice [92135].
(b) The software failure incident is not related to the operation phase or misuse of the system. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident described in the article is primarily within the system. The vulnerability exploited by the researchers involved tricking the microphones of smart speakers and other devices into reacting to light aimed directly at them, causing them to make electrical signals as if they were hearing someone's voice. This manipulation of the microphones' functionality is an internal system vulnerability that the researchers were able to exploit [92135]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case is related to non-human actions. Researchers discovered a vulnerability in smart speakers where they could be taken over by hitting the devices' microphones with beams of light, tricking the microphones into making electrical signals as if they're hearing someone's voice. This vulnerability was not introduced by human actions but rather by the susceptibility of the devices to lasers [92135]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident in this case is related to hardware. Researchers discovered a vulnerability in smart speakers such as Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri, where they could be taken over by hitting the devices' microphones with beams of light [92135]. The vulnerability exploited the fact that microphones also react to light aimed directly at them, tricking them into making electrical signals as if they're hearing someone's voice [92135].
(b) The software failure incident is also related to software. The vulnerability allowed hackers to potentially use light commands to buy stuff online, control smart home switches, and remotely unlock and start a car linked to the speaker [92135]. The incident highlights a software flaw in the way these smart devices process input signals from their microphones, allowing unauthorized access and control. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious in nature. Researchers discovered a vulnerability in smart speakers that could be exploited by hitting the devices' microphones with beams of light, allowing hackers to take over Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri. The hackers could potentially use this method to buy items online, control smart home switches, and even remotely unlock and start a car linked to the speaker [92135]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
The intent of the software failure incident related to the vulnerability discovered in smart speakers being susceptible to lasers was not due to poor decisions or accidental decisions. Instead, it was a result of a novel discovery by researchers who found that microphones in smart speakers react to light aimed directly at them, in addition to sound. The incident was not caused by poor decisions or accidental decisions but rather by a previously unknown vulnerability in the technology [92135]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in this case is not directly related to development incompetence. The vulnerability discovered by the researchers was unexpected and involved exploiting a physical characteristic of the devices (microphones reacting to light) rather than a failure in the development process [92135].
(b) The software failure incident can be categorized as accidental. The vulnerability that allowed the smart speakers to be taken over by lasers was not intentionally designed into the devices but was an accidental discovery by the researchers. It was not a deliberate feature or flaw in the software but rather an unforeseen susceptibility to a specific external stimulus (light) [92135]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is more likely to be temporary rather than permanent. The vulnerability discovered by the researchers involved using lasers to manipulate smart speakers and devices like the iPhone XR, Samsung Galaxy S9, and Google Pixel 2. The vulnerability was specific to the method of using light to trick the microphones into making electrical signals, allowing hackers to potentially control various functions of the devices. The incident was not a result of inherent design flaws in the devices but rather a specific vulnerability that could be addressed with appropriate security measures. The companies involved, such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Ford, and Tesla, were informed about the issue, indicating that steps could be taken to mitigate the vulnerability [92135]. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The articles do not mention any instances of the software crashing.
(b) omission: The vulnerability discovered by researchers involved the smart speakers' susceptibility to lasers, which could allow hackers to take over devices like Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri by tricking the microphones into making electrical signals as if they're hearing someone's voice. This could lead to the omission of the system's intended functions as the hackers could remotely control various actions like buying stuff online, controlling smart home switches, and unlocking and starting a car linked to the speaker [92135].
(c) timing: The articles do not mention any instances of the software performing its intended functions too late or too early.
(d) value: The vulnerability discovered by researchers could lead to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly, as hackers could manipulate the microphones of smart speakers to carry out unauthorized actions like opening a garage door or controlling smart home devices [92135].
(e) byzantine: The articles do not mention any instances of the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The other behavior observed in this software failure incident is the system's susceptibility to external manipulation through a novel method involving lasers, which was not a typical scenario considered for security threats [92135]. |