| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to a vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service and the need for a patch for Windows 10 and Server 2016 is reminiscent of a previous incident involving the NSA. The NSA had previously exploited a Windows bug known as Eternal Blue, which was patched in early 2017. This previous incident involved the NSA losing control of the hacking tool, Eternal Blue, which was then leaked online by a group known as the Shadow Brokers [Article 94555].
(b) The software failure incident involving the vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service and the need for a patch for Windows 10 and Server 2016 highlights the potential risks faced by users due to a flaw in a crucial cryptographic component of Windows. This incident is not specific to one organization but rather affects all users of Windows 10, given that it is the most-used operating system in the world, installed on more than 900 million PCs. The scale of the risk to users is still being analyzed as researchers and cyber criminals study the vulnerability and rush to develop hacking tools to exploit it [Article 94555]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design |
(a) The software failure incident mentioned in the articles is related to the design phase. The incident was caused by a serious vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service, which is a core, low-level piece of the Windows operating system responsible for establishing trust between administrators, regular users, and other computers on both the local network and the internet. The flaw in the CryptoAPI service allowed attackers to exploit the verification check mechanism, potentially leading to the distribution of malware or interception of sensitive data [94555]. This vulnerability was a result of a flaw in the design of the software's cryptographic component, highlighting the importance of secure design practices in software development.
(b) The articles do not provide specific information about the software failure incident being related to the operation phase or due to factors introduced by the operation or misuse of the system. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is within_system. The vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service, which is a core component of Windows operating system, allowed attackers to exploit the bug and potentially undermine crucial protections, ultimately taking control of victim devices [94555]. The flaw was specifically in Windows' mechanism for confirming the legitimacy of software or establishing secure web connections, indicating an internal system vulnerability that could be exploited by attackers. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was due to a bug in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service, which is a non-human factor introduced in the software itself [94555]. The vulnerability allowed attackers to exploit the flaw in the mechanism for confirming the legitimacy of software or establishing secure web connections, potentially leading to the distribution of malware or interception of sensitive data.
(b) Human actions also played a role in this incident as the National Security Agency (NSA) discovered and disclosed the serious vulnerability to Microsoft, prompting the release of a patch to address the issue [94555]. The NSA's decision to share the vulnerability was part of a new initiative to disclose vulnerability findings more quickly and more often, indicating a deliberate human action to improve cybersecurity practices and transparency. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to a vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service, which is a software component. The vulnerability allowed attackers to exploit the bug in the software to remotely distribute malware or intercept sensitive data [Article 94555].
(b) The software failure incident is specifically due to a bug in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service, a software component used for cryptographic operations in Windows. The flaw in the software allowed attackers to undermine crucial protections and potentially take control of victim devices [Article 94555]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involved a serious vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service, which could be exploited by attackers to remotely distribute malware or intercept sensitive data [94555]. The National Security Agency (NSA) found and disclosed this vulnerability, highlighting the severity of the flaw and the potential for attackers to exploit it for malicious purposes. The NSA's decision to share the vulnerability with Microsoft and the public was part of a new initiative to quickly disclose vulnerability findings and prioritize mitigating vulnerabilities to prevent harm to systems [94555]. The incident is reminiscent of the NSA's past experience with the Eternal Blue hacking tool, where a Windows bug was exploited for digital espionage before being leaked online and used by criminals and nation-state hackers [94555].
(b) The software failure incident is not non-malicious. The vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service was a critical flaw that could be exploited by attackers to undermine crucial protections and take control of victim devices [94555]. The incident underscores the importance of addressing vulnerabilities promptly to prevent potential harm to users and systems. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident:
The software failure incident described in the article was not due to poor decisions but rather a serious vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service that was discovered by the National Security Agency (NSA) [Article 94555]. The NSA decided to disclose the vulnerability to Microsoft and the public as part of a new initiative to share vulnerability findings more quickly and more often, indicating a shift towards transparency and prioritizing the mitigation of vulnerabilities over hoarding them for exploitation [Article 94555]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident reported in Article 94555 was not due to development incompetence. The vulnerability in Windows' CryptoAPI service was discovered by the National Security Agency (NSA), indicating that the flaw was not a result of incompetence but rather a serious security issue that needed to be addressed promptly [94555].
(b) The software failure incident in Article 94555 was accidental in nature. The vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service was not intentionally created but was accidentally present, allowing attackers to potentially exploit the bug to undermine crucial protections and take control of victim devices [94555]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles is temporary. The incident involves a serious vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service, which allows attackers to exploit a bug to remotely distribute malware or intercept sensitive data [94555]. The NSA worked with Microsoft to release a patch to mitigate the vulnerability, indicating that the failure was not permanent but rather due to specific circumstances that allowed for the exploitation of the bug. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The article mentions a serious vulnerability in Windows' mechanism for confirming the legitimacy of software or establishing secure web connections, which could allow attackers to remotely distribute malware or intercept sensitive data, potentially leading to a crash of the system [Article 94555].
(b) omission: The vulnerability in Microsoft's CryptoAPI service could potentially be exploited by attackers to undermine crucial protections and take control of victim devices, indicating an omission in the system's ability to protect against such attacks [Article 94555].
(c) timing: The article does not specifically mention any timing-related failures in the software incident.
(d) value: The vulnerability in the CryptoAPI service could allow attackers to sign malware as if it's trusted by Microsoft or intercept encrypted web traffic, indicating a failure in the system's ability to correctly perform its intended functions [Article 94555].
(e) byzantine: The article does not mention any inconsistent responses or interactions in the software failure incident.
(f) other: The software failure incident described in the article can be categorized as a security vulnerability that could potentially lead to a breach of trust between administrators, regular users, and other computers, which could have catastrophic consequences [Article 94555]. |