Incident: Cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline Halts Fuel Delivery Across East Coast

Published Date: 2021-05-08

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident happened on Friday, according to an article [114513]. 2. The article [114513] was published on 2021-05-10. 3. Therefore, the incident occurred on Friday, May 7, 2021.
System 1. Colonial Pipeline's IT systems [114476] 2. Colonial Pipeline's operational technology systems [114476]
Responsible Organization 1. DarkSide, a criminal ransomware gang originating from Russia, was responsible for the cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline [114461, 114476]. 2. The cyberattack was carried out by DarkSide, a Russian-speaking ransomware gang [114462]. 3. The cyberattack was attributed to DarkSide, a gang of criminal hackers [114501].
Impacted Organization 1. Colonial Pipeline [114461, 114094, 114494, 114069, 114476] 2. Fuel distributors and refiners [114476]
Software Causes 1. The Colonial Pipeline cyberattack was caused by ransomware, specifically by the DarkSide ransomware gang, which encrypted the company's IT systems [114462]. 2. The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline was a result of a cyberattack by criminal hackers, leading to the shutdown of the pipeline's operations [114462]. 3. The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was carried out by the DarkSide ransomware gang, a criminal group specializing in double extortion ransomware attacks [114513].
Non-software Causes 1. The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was caused by a ransomware attack by a criminal group named DarkSide, originating from Russia [114461]. 2. The cyberattack led to the shutdown of the pipeline's operations as a precautionary measure to contain the threat, affecting some of the IT systems of Colonial Pipeline [114462]. 3. The cyberattack resulted in the temporary halt of all pipeline operations, impacting the fuel supply along the Eastern Seaboard [114513].
Impacts 1. The cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline led to a temporary shutdown of operations, causing a halt in the delivery of about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, potentially impacting millions of consumers [114513]. 2. The shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline resulted in fears of gasoline shortages and panic buying, with motorists lining up at gas stations from Florida to Virginia [114476]. 3. Gas prices spiked to a seven-year high, with the national average for retail gasoline prices reaching $2.985, and prices expected to continue climbing due to the pipeline closure [114476]. 4. The shutdown of the pipeline could lead to limited fuel availability and higher prices in states like Mississippi, Tennessee, and the East Coast from Georgia to Delaware [114513]. 5. The cyberattack highlighted vulnerabilities in the nation's aging energy infrastructure, emphasizing the need for improved cybersecurity measures in critical infrastructure [114513].
Preventions 1. Implementing state-of-the-art cybersecurity defenses, such as software agents that actively monitor networks for anomalies and are programmed to detect known threats, could have potentially prevented the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline [114513]. 2. Establishing and enforcing mandatory cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure, similar to those in place for the bulk electric system, could have helped prevent such cyberattacks on pipelines [114513]. 3. Enhancing network security measures, including regular security awareness training for employees to prevent phishing attacks, could have reduced the risk of successful cyber intrusions [114501]. 4. Keeping critical operational technology systems offline and disconnected from the internet to minimize the exposure to cyber threats could have mitigated the vulnerability of the pipeline's control systems [114501]. 5. Strengthening data loss prevention programs to ensure highly confidential data cannot be easily removed from the network could have prevented the theft of sensitive information by hackers before encrypting it [114273].
Fixes 1. Implementing state-of-the-art cybersecurity defenses, such as software agents that actively monitor networks for anomalies and known threats like DarkSide's infiltration tools, to prevent and detect ransomware attacks [114513]. 2. Establishing mandatory cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure, including pipelines, to ensure they are adequately protected from cyber threats [114476]. 3. Enhancing collaboration between public and private sectors to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and develop a coordinated response to cyberattacks [114513]. 4. Naming and shaming ransomware actors and holding governments accountable for harboring them to deter future attacks and punish those responsible [114513]. 5. Creating a federal response fund to provide financial assistance to ransomware attack victims and prevent them from paying ransoms, thereby reducing the incentive for cybercriminals [114513].
References 1. Colonial Pipeline [114461, 114094, 114494, 114069, 114476, 114513] 2. FBI [114461, 114494, 114476] 3. DarkSide (Ransomware gang) [114461, 114494, 114476] 4. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) [114494, 114476] 5. Third Bridge [114476] 6. S&P Global Platts [114476] 7. AAA [114476, 114513] 8. CheckPoint [114513] 9. U.S. Cyber Command [114513] 10. Microsoft [114513] 11. Amazon [114513] 12. FBI [114513] 13. Secret Service [114513] 14. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [114513]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization: - Colonial Pipeline experienced a cyberattack due to ransomware, causing a shutdown of its operations [Article 114461]. - The attack on Colonial Pipeline was carried out by the DarkSide ransomware gang, a relatively new but prolific group [Article 114462]. - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline led to a shutdown of the pipeline, impacting fuel supplies along the East Coast [Article 114476]. (b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization: - Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common, affecting various organizations such as hospitals, schools, police departments, and state and local governments [Article 114476]. - The attack on Colonial Pipeline is part of a trend where criminal ransomware gangs target critical infrastructure and organizations for financial gain [Article 114513].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) In the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack incident, the failure occurred during the operation phase. The cyberattack, carried out by the DarkSide ransomware gang, targeted Colonial Pipeline's IT systems, leading to the shutdown of pipeline operations as a precautionary measure to contain the threat. The attack did not spread to the critical systems controlling the pipeline's operation, but it impacted the IT systems, prompting the company to proactively halt operations [114462]. (b) The Colonial Pipeline cyberattack incident also involved a failure during the design phase. The cyberattack exploited vulnerabilities in Colonial Pipeline's computer systems, likely gaining access through the administrative side of the business. The hackers potentially breached the network by tricking an employee into downloading malware or exploiting weaknesses in third-party software. The attack highlighted the risks associated with connected devices and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to prevent such incidents [114462].
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system, outside_system (a) within_system: - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was due to ransomware, a type of malware that locks out the rightful user of a computer or computer network and holds it hostage until a fee is paid [114461]. - The attack on Colonial Pipeline involved DarkSide, a ransomware gang that specializes in double extortion, where they steal an organization's data before encrypting it and threaten to release it online if a ransom is not paid [114513]. - Colonial Pipeline's IT systems were affected by the ransomware attack, leading to a precautionary shutdown of pipeline operations [114513]. - The attack did not spread to the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation, but the fact that it could have done so alarmed security experts [114513]. - The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline highlights cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation's aging energy infrastructure, emphasizing the need for improved cybersecurity measures within the system [114513]. (b) outside_system: - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was carried out by a criminal hacking group called DarkSide, believed to be based in Russia, highlighting the external threat posed by cybercriminals targeting critical infrastructure [114513]. - DarkSide, the ransomware gang responsible for the attack, is motivated by profit and operates as part of a criminal syndicate that engages in double extortion tactics [114513]. - The attack on Colonial Pipeline was a ransomware incident, a type of cyberattack that scrambles data and demands a ransom payment to decrypt it, showcasing the external threat posed by cybercriminals to critical infrastructure [114513]. - The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline was part of a broader trend of increasing ransomware attacks on organizations, including critical infrastructure, by criminal syndicates operating from safe havens abroad [114513]. - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline underscores the national security threat posed by ransomware attacks and the need for coordinated efforts to prevent and respond to such incidents [114513].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions: - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was caused by a ransomware attack by a criminal hacking group known as DarkSide, which is a non-human factor introduced without human participation [114462]. - The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline did not spread to the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation, indicating that the attack was primarily focused on the IT systems rather than the operational technology [114513]. - The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline led to the shutdown of the pipeline operations as a precautionary measure to contain the threat posed by the cyberattack [114462]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions: - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was carried out by a criminal hacking group known as DarkSide, which is believed to be based in Russia and consists of human actors conducting the attack [114462]. - The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline was a result of human actions by the criminal hackers who gained access to the company's network through methods such as phishing emails or exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party software [114501]. - The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline was enabled by human actions such as tricking an employee into downloading malware or exploiting weaknesses in the company's network, highlighting the role of human factors in cybersecurity vulnerabilities [114501].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware: - The Colonial Pipeline cyberattack was a ransomware attack that affected the company's IT systems, leading to a precautionary shutdown of the pipeline operations. The attack did not spread to the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation, indicating that the ransomware malware used in the attack did not affect the pipeline's operational technology ([114513]). - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline did not directly impact the critical systems controlling the pipeline's operation, suggesting that the attack did not breach the operational technology systems ([114513]). (b) The software failure incident occurring due to software: - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was a ransomware attack carried out by the DarkSide criminal hackers, affecting the company's IT systems and leading to the shutdown of pipeline operations. The ransomware used in the attack could have potentially impacted the critical systems controlling the pipeline's operation ([114513]). - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was a ransomware attack by the DarkSide criminal hackers, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation's aging energy infrastructure. The attack involved ransomware that scrambled data and paralyzed victim networks, potentially affecting millions of consumers ([114513]).
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious, unknown (a) malicious: The software failure incident involving the Colonial Pipeline was a result of a ransomware cyberattack by the criminal group DarkSide, which is believed to be based in Russia. The attack was described as a ransomware attack, where the hackers demanded a ransom after locking up the company's computer network and holding it hostage until the ransom was paid. The attack was carried out with the intent to disrupt the operations of the pipeline and extract a ransom payment [114461, 114094, 114494, 114069, 114476]. (b) non-malicious: There is no information provided in the articles to suggest that the software failure incident was non-malicious.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) unknown (a) The intent of the software failure incident was not explicitly mentioned in the articles. However, the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline was carried out by a criminal hacking group known as DarkSide, which specializes in ransomware attacks for profit. The attack was described as a ransomware attack, where the hackers encrypted data and demanded a ransom for decryption. The hackers behind the attack, DarkSide, are motivated by profit and engage in double extortion, where they steal an organization's data before encrypting it and threaten to release the data online if the ransom is not paid [114476, 114513]. (b) The intent of the software failure incident was not due to accidental decisions or mistakes. The cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline was a deliberate act carried out by a criminal hacking group, DarkSide, with the intent of deploying ransomware to extort money from the company. The attack was a targeted and intentional act of cybercrime rather than a result of accidental decisions or mistakes [114476, 114513].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence (a) development_incompetence: The Colonial Pipeline cyberattack was caused by a ransomware attack by the DarkSide criminal group, highlighting vulnerabilities in the nation's critical infrastructure. The attack led to the shutdown of the pipeline's operations, impacting fuel supplies along the East Coast. The attack exploited weaknesses in Colonial's IT systems, leading to the precautionary shutdown of the pipeline [114462]. (b) accidental: The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was not accidental but a deliberate ransomware attack by the DarkSide criminal group. The attack was a planned criminal act to disrupt operations and demand a ransom from Colonial Pipeline. It was not a result of accidental factors but a targeted cyberattack [114462].
Duration temporary (a) The software failure incident related to the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack was temporary. The pipeline operator, Colonial Pipeline, halted all pipeline operations as a precautionary shutdown after becoming the victim of a ransomware attack by the DarkSide criminal hackers [Article 114513]. The incident caused disruptions, panic buying, and concerns over fuel shortages, but Colonial Pipeline was working to restore service on the majority of its pipeline by a certain timeline [Article 114476]. The cyberattack affected Colonial's IT systems, but not the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation [Article 114513]. (b) The software failure incident was temporary as Colonial Pipeline was working to restore service on the majority of its pipeline by a certain timeline [Article 114476]. The cyberattack affected Colonial's IT systems, but not the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation [Article 114513]. The pipeline shutdown was a precautionary measure taken by Colonial Pipeline to contain the threat of the ransomware attack [Article 114513].
Behaviour crash, omission, value, other (a) crash: The Colonial Pipeline cyberattack incident led to the temporary shutdown of the pipeline operations, which can be considered a crash as the system lost its ability to deliver fuel due to the ransomware attack [114461]. (b) omission: The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline resulted in the system omitting to perform its intended functions of delivering fuel along the East Coast due to the precautionary shutdown after the ransomware attack [114513]. (c) timing: The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline did not directly involve timing issues, as the primary impact was the shutdown of pipeline operations due to the ransomware attack [114513]. (d) value: The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline can be considered a value failure as the system was unable to deliver fuel as intended, impacting consumers and potentially leading to price spikes [114513]. (e) byzantine: The Colonial Pipeline cyberattack incident did not exhibit characteristics of a byzantine failure, as the primary issue was the ransomware attack leading to the shutdown of pipeline operations [114513]. (f) other: The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline can be considered a security breach and a critical infrastructure vulnerability, leading to operational disruptions and potential economic impacts [114461, 114513].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception sensor, processing_unit, network_communication (a) sensor: Failure due to contributing factors introduced by sensor error - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline did not directly affect the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation, indicating that the ransomware did not spread to the sensor layer of the cyber physical system [Article 114513]. (b) actuator: Failure due to contributing factors introduced by actuator error - There is no specific mention of the failure being related to the actuator layer in the articles. (c) processing_unit: Failure due to contributing factors introduced by processing error - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline affected some of its IT systems, leading to a precautionary shutdown, but it did not spread to the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation, suggesting that the processing unit layer was not directly impacted by the ransomware attack [Article 114513]. (d) network_communication: Failure due to contributing factors introduced by network communication error - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was a ransomware attack that affected the company's IT systems, leading to a shutdown of pipeline operations, indicating that the network communication layer was compromised by the attack [Article 114513]. (e) embedded_software: Failure due to contributing factors introduced by embedded software error - The articles do not provide specific information about the failure being related to the embedded software layer of the cyber physical system.
Communication connectivity_level (a) The failure was related to the communication layer of the cyber physical system that failed: - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline, a critical U.S. pipeline, was a ransomware attack that affected the IT systems of the company, leading to a precautionary shutdown of the pipeline operations [Article 114513]. - The attack did not spread to the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation, but the fact that it could have done so alarmed outside security experts, indicating vulnerabilities in the communication layer of the system [Article 114513]. - The ransomware attack by the DarkSide criminal hackers did not directly impact the systems controlling the pipeline's operation, but the shutdown was a precautionary measure to contain the threat [Article 114513]. (b) The failure was related to the connectivity level of the cyber physical system that failed: - The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was a ransomware attack that affected the IT systems of the company, indicating vulnerabilities in the network connectivity of the system [Article 114513]. - The attack did not spread to the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation, but the fact that it could have done so alarmed outside security experts, highlighting potential weaknesses in the network or transport layer of the system [Article 114513]. - The ransomware attack by the DarkSide criminal hackers did not directly impact the systems controlling the pipeline's operation, but the shutdown was a precautionary measure to contain the threat, suggesting potential issues at the network or transport layer of the cyber physical system [Article 114513].
Application TRUE The cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, which resulted in the shutdown of operations, was related to the application layer of the cyber physical system. The attack was a ransomware attack carried out by the DarkSide criminal hacking group. The attack affected Colonial Pipeline's IT systems, leading to the precautionary shutdown of the pipeline operations. The ransomware used in the attack did not spread to the critical systems that control the pipeline's operation, indicating that the attack was focused on the application layer of the system [114476, 114513].

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property, delay, theoretical_consequence (a) death: People lost their lives due to the software failure - There is no mention of any deaths resulting from the software failure incident reported in the articles [114461, 114094, 114494, 114069, 114161, 114273, 114476, 114513]. (b) harm: People were physically harmed due to the software failure - There is no mention of people being physically harmed due to the software failure incident reported in the articles [114461, 114094, 114494, 114069, 114161, 114273, 114476, 114513]. (c) basic: People's access to food or shelter was impacted because of the software failure - There is no mention of people's access to food or shelter being impacted due to the software failure incident reported in the articles [114461, 114094, 114494, 114069, 114161, 114273, 114476, 114513]. (d) property: People's material goods, money, or data was impacted due to the software failure - The software failure incident impacted the Colonial Pipeline's operations, leading to potential fuel shortages, price hikes, panic buying, and gas station outages [114461, 114094, 114494, 114161, 114476, 114513]. (e) delay: People had to postpone an activity due to the software failure - The software failure incident led to the temporary shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline operations, causing delays in fuel delivery and potential disruptions in the supply chain [114461, 114094, 114494, 114161, 114476, 114513]. (f) non-human: Non-human entities were impacted due to the software failure - The software failure incident impacted the Colonial Pipeline's operations, fuel delivery systems, and IT networks, but there is no specific mention of non-human entities being impacted [114461, 114094, 114494, 114161, 114476, 114513]. (g) no_consequence: There were no real observed consequences of the software failure - The software failure incident had significant consequences, including potential fuel shortages, price spikes, gas station outages, panic buying, and disruptions in the fuel supply chain [114461, 114094, 114494, 114161, 114476, 114513]. (h) theoretical_consequence: There were potential consequences discussed of the software failure that did not occur - The potential consequences discussed included the impact on gasoline prices, fuel availability, and the economy if the pipeline shutdown persisted for an extended period [114461, 114094, 114494, 114161, 114476, 114513]. (i) other: Was there consequence(s) of the software failure not described in the (a to h) options? What is the other consequence(s)? - There were no other consequences of the software failure mentioned in the articles [114461, 114094, 114494, 114161, 114476, 114513].
Domain transportation, utilities (a) The failed system was intended to support the transportation industry. The Colonial Pipeline, which was impacted by the cyberattack, delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, highlighting vulnerabilities in the nation's aging energy infrastructure [Article 114513]. (g) The Colonial Pipeline, which was affected by the cyberattack, is a critical part of the utilities industry as it delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard [Article 114513]. (m) The cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, a critical U.S. pipeline, is not directly related to any other industry mentioned in the options (a to l) [Article 114513].

Sources

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