| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident of security flaws in a mobile app used for enforcing quarantines in South Korea is a case where a similar incident happened within the same organization. The app developed by the South Korean government had serious security flaws that made private information vulnerable to hackers [102676]. The rush to deploy the app quickly for pandemic response led to inadequate security features being present in the software.
(b) The incident in South Korea is not an isolated case. Governments worldwide have faced complaints about poor security practices in virus-tracing apps. For example, a virus-tracing app in India was found to leak users' precise locations, prompting the Indian government to fix the problem. Flaws were also discovered in an exposure-alert app in Qatar by Amnesty International, leading to quick updates by the authorities there. Other nations like Norway and Britain have had to change course on their virus apps after public outcry about privacy concerns [102676]. This indicates a broader trend of security issues in software used for pandemic response across different countries. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident in South Korea's mobile app for enforcing quarantines was primarily due to design flaws introduced during the development phase. The app had serious security flaws that made private information vulnerable to hackers, such as easily guessable user ID numbers and weak encryption methods [102676].
(b) Additionally, the operation of the app also played a role in the failure. The app had features added over time, like emitting a noise if the phone was not moved for more than two hours and connecting tracking wristbands, to monitor quarantine compliance. These operational features increased the workload on the developers, preventing them from focusing on security aspects [102676]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident in South Korea's mobile app for enforcing quarantines was primarily due to security flaws that originated from within the system itself. The defects in the app, such as easily guessable user ID numbers and weak encryption methods, were discovered by a software engineer who examined the app's code [102676]. The flaws allowed potential attackers to access private information of individuals in quarantine and manipulate data within the app. The rush to deploy the app quickly for pandemic response led to inadequate security checks and practices within the development process, highlighting internal system vulnerabilities that were exploited by the engineer to identify the failures. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in South Korea's mobile app for enforcing quarantines was primarily due to non-human actions, specifically serious security flaws in the app that made private information vulnerable to hackers. The defects in the app allowed attackers to retrieve personal details of individuals in quarantine and tamper with data, posing significant risks to user privacy and security [102676].
(b) However, human actions also played a role in the failure as South Korean officials acknowledged that they were in a hurry to deploy the app quickly to help slow down the spread of the virus, which led to inadequate security checks on the app before its release. Additionally, the developers of the app used easily guessable ID numbers and weak encryption methods, indicating human errors in the software development process [102676]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles was primarily due to contributing factors that originated in software. The incident involved serious security flaws in a mobile app used to enforce quarantines in South Korea. These flaws made private information vulnerable to hackers, allowing them to retrieve personal details of individuals in quarantine and tamper with data to manipulate quarantine status [102676].
(b) The software failure incident was not attributed to hardware issues but rather to software vulnerabilities that were exploited by hackers. The flaws in the app's security, such as easily guessable user ID numbers and weak encryption methods, were the root causes of the incident [102676]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in South Korea involving the mobile app used to enforce quarantines had serious security flaws that made private information vulnerable to hackers. The defects in the app could have allowed attackers to retrieve personal information such as names, real-time locations, and other details of people in quarantine. Additionally, hackers could have tampered with data to make it appear as if users were violating quarantine orders or still in quarantine despite being elsewhere. These security vulnerabilities were identified by a software engineer, Frédéric Rechtenstein, who found that the app's developers had implemented weak security measures, such as easily guessable user ID numbers and insecure encryption methods [102676].
(b) The software failure incident in South Korea was primarily non-malicious in nature. The flaws in the app's security were not introduced with the intent to harm the system but rather due to the pressure to deploy the app quickly to help slow down the spread of the virus. South Korean officials acknowledged that they were in a hurry to release the app and could not afford a time-consuming security check that would delay its deployment. The lack of expertise in making the software secure, combined with the increasing workload on the development team, contributed to the security flaws in the app. The episode highlighted how the rush to deploy software solutions in response to the pandemic led to inadequate security practices [102676]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident was due to poor decisions made by the South Korean officials and developers. They acknowledged that they were in a hurry to deploy the app quickly to help slow down the spread of the virus, which led to inadequate security checks on the app [102676]. The software developers assigned easily guessable ID numbers to users, used weak encryption methods, and did not prioritize security measures during the app development process. Additionally, the developers did not anticipate the widespread use of the app, leading to vulnerabilities being exposed when the app became widely adopted [102676].
(b) The software failure incident was also influenced by accidental decisions or unintended consequences. The rush to deploy the app quickly to save lives and the lack of expertise in ensuring software security contributed to the accidental introduction of security flaws in the app [102676]. The developers' focus on adding surveillance functions to the app and the increasing workload on the team prevented them from adequately addressing security concerns, leading to unintended consequences in terms of data vulnerability and privacy risks. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in South Korea's mobile app for enforcing quarantines was primarily due to development incompetence. The app had serious security flaws that made private information vulnerable to hackers, such as easily guessable user ID numbers, insecure encryption methods, and a lack of proper security checks before deployment [102676]. The rush to deploy the app quickly to combat the spread of the virus led to inadequate security features being implemented, showcasing a lack of professional competence in ensuring the app's security.
(b) Additionally, the rush to deploy the app quickly without thorough security checks can also be considered an accidental factor contributing to the software failure incident. The officials acknowledged that they were in a hurry to deploy the app as quickly as possible to help slow down the spread of the virus, which led to overlooking critical security flaws that made the app vulnerable to attacks [102676]. This accidental oversight in prioritizing speed over security played a significant role in the failure of the software. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident discussed in the article was temporary. The security flaws in the mobile app used to enforce quarantines in South Korea were identified by a software engineer, Frédéric Rechtenstein, and reported to the authorities. The flaws were acknowledged by South Korean officials, and they took action to fix the vulnerabilities in the latest version of the app released in Google and Apple stores [102676]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in South Korea related to the mobile app used to enforce quarantines had serious security flaws that could have allowed attackers to retrieve private information of individuals in quarantine. The defects in the app could have led to a crash scenario where the system loses state and does not perform its intended functions, potentially compromising the security and privacy of users [102676].
(b) omission: The security flaws in the app could have also resulted in an omission scenario where the system omits to perform its intended functions. For example, hackers could have tampered with data to make it look as if users of the app were either violating quarantine orders or still in quarantine despite being somewhere else, indicating a failure to accurately enforce quarantine regulations [102676].
(c) timing: While the primary issue with the software failure incident was related to security flaws and potential privacy breaches, there is no specific mention of timing failures where the system performs its intended functions but either too late or too early in the articles provided.
(d) value: The security flaws in the app, such as easily guessable ID numbers and weak encryption methods, could lead to a value failure scenario where the system performs its intended functions incorrectly. For instance, if a hacker could retrieve personal information or manipulate data, the system would be providing incorrect information or violating user privacy [102676].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident in South Korea did not exhibit characteristics of a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The primary focus was on security vulnerabilities and potential data breaches rather than erratic or inconsistent behavior.
(f) other: The other behavior exhibited by the software failure incident in South Korea was the rush to deploy the app quickly without conducting thorough security checks. The pressure to act swiftly to combat the spread of the virus led to the omission of a comprehensive security assessment, highlighting a failure in the decision-making process and prioritization of security measures [102676]. |