| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to hyperjacking attacks on virtualization software has happened at VMware again. The incident involved a sophisticated hacker group installing backdoors in VMware's virtualization software on multiple targets' networks [132584].
(b) The incident of hyperjacking attacks on virtualization software has also occurred in fewer than 10 victims' networks across North America and Asia, indicating that the issue has affected multiple organizations beyond just VMware [132584]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The article discusses a software failure incident related to the design phase. The incident involved a sophisticated hacker group installing backdoors in VMware's virtualization software on multiple targets' networks as part of an apparent espionage campaign. The hackers were able to invisibly watch and run commands on the computers those hypervisors oversee by planting their own code in victims' hypervisors. This incident highlights the potential risks and vulnerabilities introduced by system development and updates [132584].
(b) The article also touches upon a software failure incident related to the operation phase. The hackers did not exploit any patchable vulnerability in VMware's software but instead used administrator-level access to the ESXi hypervisors to plant their spy tools. This admin access suggests that their virtualization hacking served as a persistence technique, allowing them to hide their espionage more effectively long-term after gaining initial access to the victims' network through other means. This aspect of the incident relates to contributing factors introduced by the operation or misuse of the system [132584]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident described in the articles is primarily within the system. The hackers were able to compromise VMware's virtualization software by installing backdoors in the hypervisors, allowing them to invisibly watch and run commands on the computers those hypervisors oversee. The malicious code targeted the hypervisor on the physical machine, multiplying the hackers' access and evading traditional security measures [132584].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident also involves contributing factors that originate from outside the system. The hackers exploited vulnerabilities in the virtualization software to carry out hyperjacking attacks, which involved planting backdoors in VMware's software on multiple targets' networks. The hackers did not exploit any patchable vulnerability in VMware's software but instead used administrator-level access to the hypervisors to plant their spy tools, indicating that the initial access to the victims' network was gained through other means [132584]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the articles is primarily related to non-human actions. The incident involved a sophisticated hacker group installing backdoors in VMware's virtualization software on multiple targets' networks as part of an apparent espionage campaign. The hackers planted their own code in victims' hypervisors, allowing them to invisibly watch and run commands on the computers those hypervisors oversee. This type of attack bypasses traditional security measures and exploits virtualization to gain access and control over multiple virtual machines [132584].
(b) While the software failure incident was primarily caused by non-human actions, human actions also played a role in the incident. The hackers did not exploit any patchable vulnerability in VMware's software but instead used administrator-level access to the ESXi hypervisors to plant their spy tools. This suggests that human actions, such as poor credential management and network security practices, may have contributed to the hackers' ability to gain access and persist within the victims' networks [132584]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident in the articles is related to hardware as the hackers were able to compromise the victims' virtualization setups by installing a malicious version of VMware's software installation bundle to replace the legitimate version. This allowed them to hide backdoors in VMware's hypervisor program known as ESXi, which then let the hackers surveil and run their own commands on virtual machines managed by the infected hypervisor. The hackers did not exploit any patchable vulnerability in VMware's software but used administrator-level access to the ESXi hypervisors to plant their spy tools, indicating a compromise at the hardware level [132584].
(b) The software failure incident is also related to software as the hackers were able to install backdoors in VMware's virtualization software on multiple targets' networks, allowing them to invisibly watch and run commands on the computers those hypervisors oversee. The malicious code targeted the hypervisor on the physical machine rather than the victim's virtual machines, multiplying their access and evading traditional security measures. The hackers corrupted victims' virtualization setups by installing a malicious version of VMware's software installation bundle, indicating a compromise at the software level [132584]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involved a sophisticated hacker group installing backdoors in VMware's virtualization software on multiple targets' networks as part of an apparent espionage campaign. The hackers planted their own code in victims' hypervisors, allowing them to invisibly watch and run commands on the computers those hypervisors oversee. This malicious activity was aimed at spying on and manipulating virtual machines, with the potential to evade traditional security measures [132584]. The attackers did not exploit any patchable vulnerability in VMware's software but instead used administrator-level access to plant their spy tools, indicating a deliberate and targeted effort to compromise the systems [132584].
(b) The software failure incident is not non-malicious. The incident involved intentional actions by the hackers to compromise the virtualization setups of the victims by installing malicious versions of VMware's software and hiding backdoors in the hypervisor program. The attackers' goal was to surveil and run their own commands on the virtual machines managed by the infected hypervisor, demonstrating a clear intent to harm the systems and conduct espionage [132584]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
The intent of the software failure incident described in the articles is related to poor_decisions. The incident involved a sophisticated hacker group installing backdoors in VMware's virtualization software on multiple targets' networks as part of an apparent espionage campaign. The hackers planted their own code in victims' hypervisors, allowing them to invisibly watch and run commands on the computers those hypervisors oversee. This action was not due to accidental decisions but rather a deliberate and strategic move by the hackers to compromise the virtualization setups [132584]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in the articles is not related to development incompetence. The incident is primarily about a sophisticated hacker group installing backdoors in VMware's virtualization software as part of an espionage campaign [132584].
(b) The software failure incident in the articles is related to accidental factors. The hackers did not exploit any patchable vulnerability in VMware's software but instead used administrator-level access to the ESXi hypervisors to plant their spy tools, suggesting that their virtualization hacking served as a persistence technique [132584]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles can be categorized as a permanent failure. The incident involved a sophisticated hacker group installing backdoors in VMware's virtualization software on multiple targets' networks as part of an apparent espionage campaign. The hackers were able to invisibly watch and run commands on the computers those hypervisors oversee by planting their own code in victims' hypervisors [132584].
The attackers did not exploit any patchable vulnerability in VMware's software but instead used administrator-level access to the ESXi hypervisors to plant their spy tools, indicating a persistent technique to hide their espionage more effectively long-term after gaining initial access to the victims' network through other means [132584]. This type of software failure incident, where unauthorized access and control are established through backdoors, can be considered permanent until the vulnerabilities are fully addressed and mitigated. |
| Behaviour |
value, other |
(a) crash: The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions.
(b) omission: The software failure incident described in the articles does not involve the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s).
(c) timing: The software failure incident does not involve the system performing its intended functions correctly but too late or too early.
(d) value: The software failure incident is related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. The hackers installed backdoors in VMware's virtualization software, allowing them to surveil and run their own commands on virtual machines managed by the infected hypervisor, indicating a failure in the system's value [132584].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not involve the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident can be categorized as a sophisticated hacking technique known as "hyperjacking," where hackers hijack virtualization to spy on and manipulate virtual machines, evading traditional security measures. This behavior falls under the "other" category of software failure incidents [132584]. |