| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the exposure of user data due to a bug in Ring's Neighbor app has happened before within the same organization. In 2019, a similar bug was discovered in the Ring app, revealing the locations of tens of thousands of Ring users [109687].
(b) The incident of user data exposure due to a bug in Ring's Neighbor app has also occurred at other organizations. In 2019, Ring log-in credentials of more than 3,600 users, including emails, passwords, and phone numbers, were leaked onto the dark web [109687]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be attributed to a bug in Ring's Neighbor app that exposed the locations and home addresses of users who shared posts on the platform. This bug was a result of a security flaw in the app's design, which allowed detailed specifics, including home addresses and even latitude and longitude, to be recorded on Ring's servers and inadvertently shared [109687].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be seen in the misuse of Ring's security camera systems, leaving users vulnerable to hackers and bad actors. Additionally, the incident where Ring log-in credentials of more than 3,600 users were leaked onto the dark web in 2019 highlights a failure in the operation and security measures of the system [109687]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Ring Neighbor app exposing users' locations and home addresses was primarily within the system. The incident was caused by a bug in the app that led to the exposure of sensitive information stored on Ring's servers [109687]. The flaw in the software allowed hidden data, including addresses and latitude/longitude coordinates, to be published inadvertently, compromising user privacy and security. Ring acknowledged the security gap and stated that they fixed the issue promptly after becoming aware of it [109687].
(b) Additionally, the incident also involved external factors contributing to the failure. Privacy experts have criticized Ring's security camera systems for leaving users vulnerable to hackers and bad actors, indicating external threats to the system's security [109687]. The company's partnerships with law enforcement have also raised privacy concerns, with authorities being granted access to maps identifying homeowners' locations and the ability to search for specific addresses to locate nearby camera concentrations [109687]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the Ring Neighbor app exposing users' locations and home addresses was primarily due to a bug in the software system. This bug led to the hidden data, including addresses and latitude/longitude, being published inadvertently, without any malicious intent initially [109687].
(b) Human actions also played a role in this software failure incident. For example, the article mentions that Ring's security flaw was fixed after they became aware of it, indicating a human response to the issue [109687]. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of users taking precautions such as using strong passwords, two-step authentication, and regularly changing passwords to secure their Ring devices, which are all human actions to prevent security breaches [109687]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The article does not mention any specific hardware-related issues contributing to the software failure incident reported in the Ring Neighbor app [109687].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software failure incident in the Ring Neighbor app was due to a bug that exposed the locations and home addresses of users who shared posts on the platform. This bug led to the hidden data, including addresses and latitude and longitude, being published as a result of a security flaw in the software [109687]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Ring Neighbor app exposing users' locations and home addresses was non-malicious. The incident was caused by a bug in the app that led to the exposure of sensitive information without any evidence of malicious intent. Ring spokesperson Yassi Shahmiri stated, "We have not identified any evidence of this information being accessed or used maliciously" [109687].
However, it's important to note that the incident did raise concerns about the vulnerability of Ring's security systems to hackers and bad actors, as well as previous incidents where Ring log-in credentials were leaked onto the dark web and customers filed a class-action lawsuit against Ring and Amazon for not adequately protecting them from hackers [109687]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident:
- The software failure incident involving the Ring Neighbor app exposing users' locations and home addresses was primarily due to poor decisions made in the design and implementation of the app.
- The flaw in the app led to the hidden data, including detailed specifics like home addresses and latitude/longitude, being published on Ring's servers, compromising user privacy and security [109687].
- Ring's failure to adequately protect user data and address security vulnerabilities despite previous incidents of similar bugs in 2019 and leaked credentials in the dark web showcases poor decisions in ensuring user privacy and security [109687]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence can be attributed to the bug in Ring's Neighbor app that exposed the locations and home addresses of users who shared posts on the platform. This bug led to the detailed specifics, including home addresses and even latitude and longitude, being recorded on Ring's servers, which were then published due to a security flaw [109687].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors includes the unintentional exposure of user data due to the flaw in the Neighbor app. Ring acknowledged the security flaw and mentioned that they fixed the issue soon after becoming aware of it. They also stated that they had not identified any evidence of the information being accessed or used maliciously [109687]. |
| Duration |
permanent, temporary |
(a) The software failure incident in the Ring Neighbor app exposing users' locations and home addresses due to a bug can be considered a permanent failure. This is because the flaw in the app's security allowed for the continuous exposure of sensitive user information until it was fixed by the company. The article mentions that the flaw was publishing hidden data, leading to the exposure of detailed specifics like home addresses and latitude and longitude [109687].
(b) On the other hand, the software failure incident can also be seen as a temporary failure in the sense that it was not a fundamental flaw in the design of the app but rather a specific bug that was identified and fixed. The article states that Ring fixed the security flaw soon after becoming aware of it, indicating that the exposure of user information was not a permanent state but rather a temporary issue that was resolved [109687]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the Ring Neighbor app can be categorized as a crash. The bug in the app led to the exposure of users' locations and home addresses, indicating a failure of the system losing state and not performing its intended functions [109687].
(b) omission: The incident can also be categorized as an omission. The flaw in the app resulted in the omission of hiding detailed specifics such as home addresses and latitude and longitude when posts were shared, which was an omission of the system to perform its intended function of protecting user privacy [109687].
(c) timing: There is no indication in the article that the software failure incident was related to timing issues.
(d) value: The incident can be categorized as a value failure. The software failure led to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly by exposing sensitive user information like home addresses and exact locations, which should have been kept private [109687].
(e) byzantine: There is no indication in the article that the software failure incident was related to byzantine behavior.
(f) other: The other behavior exhibited by the software failure incident in the Ring Neighbor app could be categorized as a security vulnerability. The incident exposed users to potential hacking and privacy breaches, highlighting a failure of the system to ensure robust security measures and protect user data [109687]. |