| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
- Microsoft, the target of the recent hacking incident, had previously disclosed finding malicious versions of SolarWinds' software inside its network [108658].
- Microsoft had known for days that its source code had been accessed by the hackers [108658].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
- The SolarWinds hack compromised at least half-a-dozen federal agencies and potentially thousands of companies and other institutions [108658].
- Microsoft-authorized resellers were hacked, and their access to productivity programs inside targets was leveraged in attempts to read email [108658]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article where it is mentioned that the hacking group behind the SolarWinds compromise was able to break into Microsoft Corp and access some of its source code [108658]. This breach into Microsoft's source code repositories indicates a failure in the design phase where the system's security measures were compromised, allowing unauthorized access to critical information.
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be inferred from the article where it is reported that Microsoft had found malicious versions of SolarWinds' software inside its network, indicating a failure in the operation phase where the system was misused to introduce malicious software [108658]. Additionally, Microsoft acknowledged that some vendor access was misused, further highlighting operational failures that led to security breaches. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident related to the hacking of Microsoft's source code by the SolarWinds hacking group can be categorized as within_system. This is because the hackers were able to access Microsoft's source code repositories, which are internal to Microsoft's systems, indicating that the contributing factors originated from within the system itself [108658]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident related to non-human actions in this case was the hacking incident where the hacking group behind the SolarWinds compromise was able to break into Microsoft and access some of its source code. This breach was a result of the hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in the SolarWinds software, which acted as a springboard to access sensitive networks, including Microsoft's [108658].
(b) The software failure incident related to human actions in this case involved the actions of the hackers who actively targeted and breached Microsoft's systems to access its source code. Additionally, the response and investigation efforts by Microsoft's security employees, as well as the ongoing analysis by U.S. and private sector investigators, are examples of human actions taken in response to the incident [108658]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The articles do not mention any software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware. Hence, there is no information available regarding a software failure incident related to hardware in the provided articles.
(b) The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to a hack where the hacking group behind the SolarWinds compromise was able to break into Microsoft and access some of its source code. This breach led to concerns about the security of Microsoft's products and services, as the hackers potentially gained insight that could help them subvert Microsoft products or services [108658]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the hacking of Microsoft's source code by the group behind the SolarWinds compromise is considered malicious. The hackers were able to access some of Microsoft's source code, which is a critical component of the company's software development process. This access was part of a larger cyber operation that compromised several federal agencies and potentially thousands of companies and institutions [108658]. The hackers' intent was to gain insight into the inner workings of Microsoft products, potentially to subvert them or use the information for future attacks.
(b) The incident does not involve non-malicious factors. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
The intent of the software failure incident related to the hacking of Microsoft's source code appears to be more aligned with poor_decisions rather than accidental_decisions. This is because the hackers behind the SolarWinds compromise made a deliberate effort to access Microsoft's source code, which is a critical component of the company's software development and security infrastructure. The breach of the source code was not accidental but rather a strategic move by the hackers to gain insight into the inner workings of Microsoft products, potentially for future malicious activities [108658]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
unknown |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is not applicable in this case as the incident reported in the article is primarily about a hacking incident where the hacking group behind the SolarWinds compromise was able to break into Microsoft and access some of its source code. This incident is more related to a security breach rather than a failure due to development incompetence [108658].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is not applicable in this case as the incident reported in the article is primarily about a hacking incident where the hacking group behind the SolarWinds compromise was able to break into Microsoft and access some of its source code. This incident is more related to a security breach rather than a failure due to accidental factors [108658]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident in the articles is more likely to be considered temporary rather than permanent. This is because the incident involved a hacking group gaining unauthorized access to Microsoft's source code, which is a serious security breach. Microsoft mentioned that they had not found evidence of access to production services or customer data, and the investigation was ongoing to understand the extent of the breach [108658]. This indicates that the breach was a temporary failure caused by specific circumstances (the hacking incident) rather than a permanent failure due to inherent flaws in the system. |
| Behaviour |
byzantine, other |
(a) crash: The articles do not mention a crash as a specific behavior of the software failure incident.
(b) omission: The incident does not directly involve the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s).
(c) timing: The incident does not involve the system performing its intended functions correctly but too late or too early.
(d) value: The incident does not involve the system performing its intended functions incorrectly.
(e) byzantine: The behavior of the software failure incident in this case could be categorized as a byzantine failure. The hacking group behind the SolarWinds compromise was able to break into Microsoft and access some of its source code, which is a concerning and erroneous behavior with inconsistent interactions [108658].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident could also be described as a security breach leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information, potentially compromising the security and integrity of Microsoft's products and services. |