| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to phishing attacks targeting the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools is an example of a recurring issue within the same organization. The incident involved hackers exploiting the trust users have in Sharepoint through a phishing campaign, which is a well-known method of cyber attack [100999]. The NSW Department of Education mentioned that users were being educated on how to spot such phishing emails, indicating that this type of incident has likely occurred before within the organization [100999].
(b) The software failure incident involving phishing attacks on Microsoft Sharepoint is not explicitly mentioned to have happened at multiple organizations in the provided article [100999]. Therefore, there is no information to suggest that this specific incident has occurred at other organizations. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident in the article can be attributed to the design phase. The incident involved hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools through a phishing campaign. The attackers sent phishing emails that tricked users into clicking on a link that directed them to a fake login page on the Sharepoint platform, aiming to collect user logins and passwords. This type of attack was possible due to known vulnerabilities in Sharepoint, Microsoft Internet Information Services, and Citrix, which can be exploited if organizations have not patched their software [100999].
(b) The software failure incident can also be linked to the operation phase. The phishing attack targeted users of the NSW Department of Education's online accounts, indicating a failure in the operation or use of the system. The department spokeswoman mentioned that users were being educated on how to spot phishing emails, and steps were taken to control the impact and protect accounts and systems when phishing attempts were detected. This highlights the importance of user awareness and education in reducing the likelihood of successful phishing attacks, which are operational aspects of maintaining system security [100999]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident reported in the article was due to a phishing campaign targeting the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools. The attack involved sending phishing emails to users, tricking them into clicking on a link that directed them to a fake login page on the Sharepoint platform to collect user logins and passwords. This failure originated from within the system, specifically exploiting vulnerabilities in Sharepoint and other software used by government agencies and businesses [Article 100999].
(b) outside_system: The external factor contributing to the software failure incident was the state-based cyber actor targeting businesses and government entities, including the NSW schools. The attack was part of a larger campaign outlined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, indicating that the threat originated from outside the system, targeting various organizations and systems beyond the specific Sharepoint platform used by the NSW schools [Article 100999]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the article was primarily due to non-human actions, specifically a phishing campaign targeting the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools. The attack involved exploiting vulnerabilities in Sharepoint, Microsoft Internet Information Services, and Citrix, which can be exploited if software is not patched properly [100999].
(b) Human actions also played a role in this incident as users were targeted through phishing emails that tricked them into clicking on malicious links and providing their login credentials. The Department of Education mentioned that users were being educated on how to spot such phishing attempts, indicating the importance of human awareness and actions in preventing such incidents [100999]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the article was not due to hardware issues but rather due to a phishing campaign targeting the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools. The attack exploited vulnerabilities in Sharepoint, Microsoft Internet Information Services, and Citrix, indicating that the contributing factors originated in software vulnerabilities rather than hardware issues [100999]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident reported in Article 100999 is malicious in nature. The incident involved hackers targeting New South Wales school online accounts through a phishing campaign on the Microsoft Sharepoint platform. The hackers sent phishing emails to users, tricking them into clicking on a link that directed them to a fake login page to collect user logins and passwords. This type of attack is considered malicious as it was carried out with the intent to collect sensitive information and potentially harm the system [100999]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident was not due to poor decisions but rather a deliberate attack by hackers through a phishing campaign targeting the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools. The attack involved exploiting the trust users have in Sharepoint by sending phishing emails to collect user logins and passwords [Article 100999]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in the article can be attributed to development incompetence as it involved a phishing campaign targeting users of the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools. The attack exploited the trust users had in Sharepoint by sending phishing emails that directed them to a fake login page to collect user logins and passwords [Article 100999].
(b) The incident can also be categorized as accidental as users were tricked into clicking on a link in a phishing email, which was a scam. This accidental action led to the exploitation of vulnerabilities in Sharepoint, Microsoft Internet Information Services, and Citrix, highlighting the accidental nature of the failure [Article 100999]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident reported in Article 100999 was temporary. The incident involved a phishing campaign targeting the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools. Users were tricked into clicking on a link in a phishing email, which directed them to a fake login page to collect their credentials. The link was removed after it was discovered, and users were being educated on how to spot such phishing attempts to reduce the likelihood of success in the future [100999]. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The incident reported in the article does not involve a crash where the system loses state and stops performing its intended functions.
(b) omission: The software failure incident in the article is related to a phishing campaign targeting users of the Microsoft Sharepoint platform used by NSW schools. The phishing email tricked users into clicking on a link that directed them to a login page on the NSW Schools Sharepoint, aiming to collect user logins and passwords. This can be considered a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions of protecting user accounts from phishing attacks [Article 100999].
(c) timing: The timing of the software failure incident is not related to the system performing its intended functions too late or too early.
(d) value: The software failure incident in the article is related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly by allowing users to be targeted by a phishing campaign that aimed to collect user logins and passwords [Article 100999].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not involve the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The other behavior observed in this software failure incident is related to the system being exploited by hackers through a phishing campaign, indicating a failure in system security measures and vulnerability management [Article 100999]. |