| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to RFID technology being used in firearms has happened within the U.S. military. The Department of Defense itself describes putting RFID technology in firearms as a "significant" security risk, leading to concerns about the potential tracking of troops on the battlefield [118868].
(b) The software failure incident related to RFID technology in firearms has also been observed in other organizations. The article mentions that the Marine Corps has decided not to tag guns with RFID due to the increased security risks it poses by increasing the digital signature of Marines on the battlefield [118868]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
unknown |
The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to the development phases, whether in design or operation. Therefore, the information about the software failure incident related to the development phases is unknown. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
The software failure incident related to the RFID technology used in military firearms can be categorized as both within_system and outside_system.
(a) within_system: The failure within the system is evident from the vulnerabilities and security risks associated with the RFID technology embedded in firearms. The field tests conducted by cybersecurity experts demonstrated how RFID tags inside weapons could be quickly copied, giving an advantage to potential thieves in gun rooms and armories [118868]. Additionally, the article highlights how a corrupt insider could trick the technology by cloning tags, leading to a false sense of security [118868].
(b) outside_system: The failure originating from outside the system is seen in the potential risks posed by the RFID technology in firearms. Hackers were able to demonstrate how RFID tags on weapons could be read from afar, allowing enemies to identify U.S. troops at distances greater than advertised by contractors who install the systems [118868]. The article also mentions concerns raised by experts about the potential for troop tracking and the security risks associated with RFID technology in weapons [118868]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in this case is related to the use of RFID technology in firearms by the U.S. military. The failure is attributed to the vulnerabilities of RFID technology, specifically in the context of firearms management. The article highlights how RFID tags embedded in military guns can be quickly copied, allowing potential thieves to gain an advantage in gun rooms and armories [118868]. Additionally, field tests demonstrated that even low-tech enemies could identify U.S. troops at distances greater than advertised by contractors who install the systems, indicating a failure in the security measures of the technology [118868].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
The decision to implement RFID technology in firearms by some U.S. military units despite the known security risks associated with it can be considered a failure resulting from human actions. The article mentions that the Marines have rejected RFID technology in weapons due to security concerns, and the Navy halted its use after determining that the technology did not meet operational requirements [118868]. Additionally, the momentum for RFID technology within the Air Force grew after a machine gun disappeared from a security forces group, leading to a push for bolstering armory security with RFID technology [118868]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
unknown |
The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to hardware or software issues. Therefore, the information about the software failure incident related to hardware or software factors is unknown. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
unknown |
The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to a malicious or non-malicious objective. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
The software failure incident related to the use of RFID technology in firearms by some U.S. military units can be attributed to both poor decisions and accidental decisions.
1. Poor Decisions:
The decision to embed RFID tags in firearms was considered a "significant" security risk by the Department of Defense itself. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Uriah Orland mentioned that policymakers oppose embedding tags in firearms due to the significant operations security risk it poses, allowing adversaries to easily identify DOD personnel operating locations and potentially even their identity [118868].
2. Accidental Decisions:
The momentum for implementing RFID technology in firearms within the Air Force was driven by a 2018 incident where a machine gun disappeared from a security forces group. This incident led to a push for bolstering armory security, and defense contractors offered RFID technology as a solution without fully considering the security implications and vulnerabilities associated with the technology [118868].
Therefore, the software failure incident involving the use of RFID technology in firearms by the military units can be seen as a combination of poor decisions in implementing the technology despite known security risks and accidental decisions driven by the desire to enhance armory security without fully understanding the potential vulnerabilities introduced by the technology. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to development incompetence.
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is the use of RFID technology in firearms by some U.S. military units. The rollout of RFID technology on Army and Air Force bases continued despite the Department of Defense describing it as a "significant" security risk. The accidental factor here is the unintended consequence of using RFID tags in firearms, which could potentially allow enemies to detect U.S. troops at distances greater than advertised by contractors who installed the systems [118868]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to the RFID technology being used in military firearms can be considered as a temporary failure. This is because the failure is due to contributing factors introduced by certain circumstances, specifically the vulnerabilities and risks associated with embedding RFID tags in firearms. The articles highlight how the RFID technology poses security risks, such as enabling enemies to identify U.S. troops at distances greater than advertised and the potential for tags to be cloned or read from afar [118868]. These circumstances have led to concerns and criticisms regarding the use of RFID in weapons, indicating that the failure is temporary and can potentially be mitigated by addressing the identified risks and vulnerabilities. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the articles does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. The failure is related to the use of RFID technology in firearms, which poses security risks and potential tracking issues rather than a complete system crash [Article 118868].
(b) omission: The failure can be related to omission as the RFID technology in firearms omits to perform its intended functions correctly in terms of security and tracking. The system fails to provide the expected security and anonymity for military personnel, leading to potential tracking by adversaries [Article 118868].
(c) timing: The failure is not related to timing, where the system performs its intended functions but either too late or too early. The issue with RFID technology in firearms is more about the security risks and tracking vulnerabilities rather than timing-related failures [Article 118868].
(d) value: The failure can be related to the value as the system performs its intended functions incorrectly in terms of providing adequate security and protection for military personnel. The RFID technology in firearms is seen as posing significant security risks and potentially compromising the safety of troops by allowing easy identification by adversaries [Article 118868].
(e) byzantine: The failure is not related to a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The issue with RFID technology in firearms is more about the security risks and potential tracking vulnerabilities rather than inconsistent behavior [Article 118868].
(f) other: The other behavior of the software failure incident is related to the vulnerability of the RFID technology in firearms to being exploited by hackers. The system's failure to provide robust security measures allows for the cloning of RFID tags, potentially leading to unauthorized access to firearms and compromising the safety of military personnel [Article 118868]. |