| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
The article mentions that NEW Cooperative Inc experienced a cybersecurity incident, which is similar to previous high-profile attacks on other companies such as SolarWinds Corp, Colonial Pipeline, JBS, and Kaseya [118904].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
The article highlights that cybersecurity incidents, including ransomware attacks, have been a recurring issue affecting various organizations. For example, the article mentions the cybercriminal group BlackMatter claiming to have stolen data from NEW Cooperative Inc, indicating a broader trend of such attacks on multiple organizations [118904]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident at NEW Cooperative Inc was related to the design phase. The incident was described as a "cybersecurity" incident, indicating that the failure was due to contributing factors introduced by system development or updates. The cooperative proactively took its systems offline to contain the threat, indicating that the issue was related to the design or development of their systems [118904].
(b) The software failure incident at NEW Cooperative Inc was also related to the operation phase. The incident was exacerbated by the timing of the attack, which coincided with the start of the harvest season when many farmers would be delivering crops to NEW's elevators. This operational impact highlights how the failure was influenced by the operation or use of the system [118904]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) The software failure incident at NEW Cooperative Inc was within the system. The incident was described as a "cybersecurity" incident where the cooperative proactively took its systems offline to contain the threat. The cybercriminal group BlackMatter claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that they had stolen data from NEW Cooperative, indicating that the failure originated from within the system itself [118904].
(b) The software failure incident at NEW Cooperative Inc also had contributing factors that originated from outside the system. The incident involved a cybercriminal group named BlackMatter, which operates externally and is known for using ransomware to threaten victims with data leaks. The group's actions and demands for cryptocurrency payments indicate that external factors played a role in the failure incident [118904]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident at NEW Cooperative Inc was attributed to a cyberattack by a Russian-speaking cybercriminal group named BlackMatter. The group claimed to have stolen data from NEW Cooperative and is known for using ransomware to threaten their victims with data leaks [118904].
(b) Human actions were involved in the response to the software failure incident as NEW Cooperative Inc proactively took their systems offline to contain the threat. They also notified law enforcement and are working closely with data security experts to investigate and remediate the situation [118904]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the article is related to a cybersecurity incident involving a ransomware attack on NEW Cooperative Inc, a farm services provider based in Iowa. The attack led to the cooperative proactively taking its systems offline to contain the threat. The incident was attributed to a cybercriminal group named BlackMatter, known for using ransomware to threaten victims with data leaks [118904].
(b) The software failure incident was caused by a cybersecurity attack involving ransomware, indicating a failure originating in software systems. The attack led to the cooperative taking its systems offline to contain the threat, highlighting vulnerabilities in the software infrastructure that allowed the cybercriminal group to breach the systems and steal data [118904]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident at NEW Cooperative Inc was malicious in nature. The incident was described as a "cybersecurity" incident, indicating that it was a deliberate attack aimed at compromising the cooperative's systems [118904]. The cybercriminal group BlackMatter claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that they had stolen data from NEW Cooperative, indicating malicious intent to extort the company for a cryptocurrency payment [118904]. Additionally, cybersecurity experts highlighted that this attack on a critical infrastructure organization could result in disruptions to food delivery in parts of the country, further emphasizing the malicious nature of the incident [118904]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
(a) The software failure incident at NEW Cooperative Inc was a result of poor decisions made by cybercriminals belonging to the BlackMatter group. The cybercriminals intentionally targeted the organization's systems, stole data, and threatened to leak it unless a ransom was paid in cryptocurrency. This deliberate attack on critical infrastructure, such as the food and agriculture industry, highlights the malicious intent behind the software failure incident [118904].
(b) The software failure incident was not due to accidental decisions but rather a deliberate and targeted cyberattack aimed at disrupting the operations of NEW Cooperative Inc. The incident was a result of intentional actions by cybercriminals seeking financial gain through ransomware extortion, indicating a premeditated and calculated approach rather than accidental decisions [118904]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident at NEW Cooperative Inc was not attributed to development incompetence. The incident was described as a "cybersecurity" incident, indicating that it was a deliberate attack by a cybercriminal group named BlackMatter [118904].
(b) The software failure incident was accidental. It was a result of a cyberattack by the BlackMatter group, known for using ransomware to threaten victims with data leaks and extorting them for cryptocurrency payments. The attack was not accidental but a deliberate act by the cybercriminal group [118904]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident reported in the article is temporary. The incident involved a cybersecurity attack on NEW Cooperative Inc, leading to their systems being taken offline to contain the threat. The cooperative confirmed that the threat had been successfully contained, indicating that the failure was temporary and not permanent [118904]. |
| Behaviour |
omission, timing, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article is not described as a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions [118904].
(b) omission: The incident involves a cybersecurity attack on NEW Cooperative Inc, resulting in their systems being taken offline to contain the threat. This can be seen as a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at that instance [118904].
(c) timing: The timing of the attack is crucial as it occurred just as the U.S. farm belt gears up for harvest, with many farmers starting to deliver crops to NEW's elevators across Iowa. The incident is causing delays and disruptions during a critical period for farmers, indicating a timing-related failure [118904].
(d) value: The software failure incident does not involve the system performing its intended functions incorrectly [118904].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not involve the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions [118904].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a cybersecurity breach leading to a system shutdown to contain the threat, impacting the operations of a critical infrastructure sector (agriculture) and potentially resulting in data theft and ransomware extortion [118904]. |