| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
- The Ronin Bridge, a service associated with the cryptocurrency network Ronin, experienced a breach where attackers stole a significant amount of cryptocurrency [126496].
- The incident involving the Ronin Bridge is not the first time such a breach has occurred within the organization. Previously, the Poly Network bridge, which had about $611 million worth of cryptocurrency stolen, also faced a similar attack before the funds were returned by the attacker [126496].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
- Apart from the Ronin Bridge incident, other bridge services like Qubit Bridge, Wormhole Bridge, and Meter.io Bridge have also been targeted by attackers who exploited software vulnerabilities to steal cryptocurrency [126496].
- The incident at Ronin is part of a trend where high-profile cryptocurrency thefts have been occurring, such as the theft from the decentralized finance platform Wormhole and the cyber heist involving the crypto exchange Bitfinex [126496, 126684]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the development phase in the articles is primarily associated with design issues. In the case of the Ronin Bridge hack in the cryptocurrency network Ronin, attackers exploited a weak point in the system's design related to the private encryption keys used to verify transactions. The attackers used social engineering to trick their way into accessing these keys, which were not set up rigorously enough, allowing them to approve malicious withdrawals [126496].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase in the articles is linked to the operation or misuse of the system. Hackers were able to make off with a significant amount of money from the systems of the cryptocurrency network Ronin by targeting the Ronin Bridge, which facilitated the transfer of players' assets between blockchains. By seizing control of the assets through the bridge, the attackers were able to steal the funds, highlighting an operational vulnerability in the system [126684]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the Ronin Bridge hack was primarily due to contributing factors that originated from within the system. Attackers exploited security design issues within the Ronin Bridge, specifically using social engineering to trick their way into accessing the private encryption keys used to verify transactions on the network. The way these keys were set up to validate transactions was not maximally rigorous, allowing attackers to approve their malicious withdrawals [126496].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident also had contributing factors that originated from outside the system. In the case of the Ronin Bridge hack, attackers used social engineering tactics to gain access to the private encryption keys, which can be considered an external factor as it involved manipulating individuals rather than exploiting a specific software vulnerability within the system [126496]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the Ronin Bridge attack was not solely due to human actions but also involved non-human actions. Attackers exploited security design issues and used social engineering to trick their way into accessing the private encryption keys used to verify transactions on the network, allowing them to approve malicious withdrawals [126496]. Additionally, vulnerabilities in smart contracts running on top of blockchains were exploited by hackers to redirect funds into their hands, indicating a failure due to contributing factors introduced without human participation [126684]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The articles do not mention any hardware-related issues contributing to the software failure incident reported in the context of the cryptocurrency network Ronin breach [126496, 126684].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The software failure incident in the Ronin breach was primarily attributed to software vulnerabilities that were exploited by hackers to drain funds. In the case of the Ronin Bridge attack, attackers used social engineering to trick their way into accessing the private encryption keys used to verify transactions on the network, exploiting security design issues rather than a specific software vulnerability [126496].
- The incident involving the theft from the systems of cryptocurrency network Ronin was a result of hackers targeting the Ronin Bridge, a blockchain "bridge" system that transfers players' assets between blockchains. The hackers obtained enough private keys to control the bridge and drain the funds, indicating a software-related vulnerability in the system [126684]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious, non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the theft from the Ronin cryptocurrency network can be categorized as malicious. Attackers exploited software vulnerabilities and used social engineering to access private encryption keys, allowing them to drain funds from the Ronin Bridge [126496, 126684]. The incident involved a breach where attackers made off with a significant amount of cryptocurrency, indicating malicious intent to harm the system and steal funds. The attackers targeted the bridge system, which is a crucial mechanism in the cryptocurrency economy, to siphon off funds [126496].
(b) The software failure incident can also be considered non-malicious in the sense that the vulnerabilities exploited were not intentionally introduced to harm the system. The incident highlighted security design issues and weaknesses in how the private encryption keys were set up to validate transactions on the network, indicating that the weaknesses were not deliberately created to facilitate the attack [126496]. Additionally, the incident involved exploiting software vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the system rather than introducing malicious code or intentionally causing the failure [126496, 126684]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
[a] The intent of the software failure incident in the Ronin Bridge hack was primarily due to poor decisions. The attackers exploited social engineering tactics to gain access to the private encryption keys used to verify transactions on the network. This incident highlighted the lack of rigorous security measures in place, such as monitoring systems for abnormal events or large movements of funds, which could have helped detect the breach earlier [126496].
[b] Additionally, the software failure incident involving the Axie Infinity hack targeting the Ronin Bridge was also influenced by accidental decisions. The hack occurred as the hacker obtained enough private keys to control the bridge and drain the funds, taking advantage of vulnerabilities in the smart contracts running on top of the blockchain. The incident underscored the security challenges faced by the game and the significant sums of money involved, leading to questions about the vulnerability of blockchain systems to such breaches [126684]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to development incompetence:
The incident involving the Ronin Bridge hack in the cryptocurrency network Ronin was not solely due to a specific software vulnerability but rather a result of social engineering to access private encryption keys used for transactions on the network. The attackers exploited security design issues related to how the keys were set up, allowing them to approve malicious withdrawals. This highlights a lack of professional competence in setting up rigorous security measures to prevent such breaches [126496].
(b) The software failure incident occurring accidentally:
The software failure incident related to the Ronin Bridge hack and the theft of cryptocurrency assets was not accidental but rather a deliberate act by hackers who exploited vulnerabilities in the system. The attackers targeted the Ronin Bridge, a crucial component for transferring assets between blockchains, and obtained private keys to drain funds, indicating a deliberate and calculated attack rather than an accidental failure [126496, 126684]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to the Ronin Bridge hack in the cryptocurrency network Ronin was temporary. The incident involved attackers exploiting security design issues and using social engineering to access private encryption keys, allowing them to approve malicious withdrawals. The breach was discovered on a specific date, and the platform's "validator nodes" were compromised on a different date, leading to the theft of funds. As a result, the Ronin Bridge has been down since the incident, and users are unable to carry out transactions on the platform [126496].
Additionally, the article mentions that once crypto assets are stolen, it can be challenging for thieves to cash out, and the funds are often left in limbo for years or indefinitely. This indicates that the impact of the software failure incident was temporary in nature, as the stolen funds are not immediately cashed out, and the situation remains unresolved for an extended period [126684]. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The articles do not mention any instances of a system crash as a result of the software failure incident.
(b) omission: The software failure incident in the articles resulted in the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s) when attackers exploited vulnerabilities to drain funds from various blockchain bridges, including the Ronin Bridge [126496].
(c) timing: The software failure incident did not involve the system performing its intended functions correctly but too late or too early.
(d) value: The software failure incident led to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly, allowing attackers to steal significant amounts of cryptocurrency from various bridges, including the Ronin Bridge [126496, 126684].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident did not involve the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The software failure incident involved a different weak point compared to other bridge hacks, as attackers used social engineering to trick their way into accessing private encryption keys on the Ronin network, allowing them to approve malicious withdrawals [126496]. |