Published Date: 2014-09-25
| Postmortem Analysis | |
|---|---|
| Timeline | 1. The software failure incident happened in September 2014. [29824, 30109, 30141, 30053, 30278, 30108, 30185] |
| System | 1. Bash command line shell software ([29824], [30109], [30141], [30027], [30278], [30185]) 2. OpenSSL encryption software ([30185]) |
| Responsible Organization | 1. The software failure incident was caused by a bug in the Bash command line shell, which is a standard Unix program used in many Linux and Unix operating systems, as well as in Apple's Mac OS X [Article 30185]. 2. The vulnerability in the Bash shell, known as Shellshock, was discovered by security researchers, particularly Stéphane Chazelas, who identified the bug and reported it to the lead developer of Bash, Chet Ramey [Article 30108]. 3. The GNU Project, which spawned Bash, was also pointed to as a factor in the software failure incident, as critics noted the lack of resources and maintenance for Bash, with only one person primarily responsible for maintaining and updating the software [Article 29824]. |
| Impacted Organization | 1. Many web servers, including those using the Bash command line shell, were impacted by the Shellshock vulnerability, allowing hackers to exploit them [29824, 30109, 30141, 30027, 30278, 30185]. 2. Unix-based operating systems, including Linux and Apple's Mac OS X, were affected by the Bash bug [30185]. 3. Internet-connected devices, such as smart appliances, smart locks, and computers, were vulnerable to the Bash bug [30185]. 4. Apple Mac computers were potentially at risk due to the Bash bug [30278]. 5. Websites running on Linux-based servers were susceptible to the Shellshock vulnerability [30185]. |
| Software Causes | 1. The failure incident was caused by a software vulnerability known as Shellshock, affecting free and open-source software like Bash, a command-line shell used in many Linux and Unix operating systems [29824, 30109, 30141, 30053, 30278, 30185]. |
| Non-software Causes | 1. Lack of comprehensive security audits for open-source software like Bash, leading to long-standing vulnerabilities going unnoticed [Article 30108]. 2. Limited resources and financial support for maintaining and updating critical software like Bash, potentially hindering timely identification and patching of vulnerabilities [Article 30108]. 3. Reliance on outdated code and lack of regular code review for widely used software components, increasing the risk of security flaws persisting for years [Article 30108]. 4. Complexity and interconnectedness of internet-connected devices, making it challenging for users to identify and patch vulnerabilities across various devices [Article 30185]. |
| Impacts | 1. The Shellshock vulnerability affected many web servers using the Bash command line shell, potentially allowing hackers to exploit the systems and take control of vulnerable machines [29824, 30109, 30141, 30027, 30278, 30185]. 2. The vulnerability led to the creation of botnets, malware infections, and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on websites, causing disruptions and potential data breaches [29824, 30109, 30027]. 3. The flaw impacted a wide range of devices, including servers, computers, routers, mobile phones, refrigerators, cameras, and other internet-connected devices, posing a significant threat to cybersecurity [30141, 30053, 30185]. 4. The Shellshock bug was compared to the Heartbleed bug in terms of severity, with experts warning that it could be more dangerous as it allowed for complete system control rather than just spying on computers [30108, 30185]. 5. The vulnerability affected Unix-based operating systems, Linux, Mac OS X, and potentially other systems like Android, Windows, and IBM machines, making a large number of devices susceptible to exploitation [30185]. 6. The discovery of the Shellshock bug highlighted the need for prompt patching and updates by system administrators and software companies to mitigate the risks posed by the vulnerability [30185]. 7. The incident raised concerns about the security of open-source software and the need for more rigorous auditing and monitoring of code to prevent long-standing vulnerabilities from going undetected [30108, 30185]. |
| Preventions | 1. Regular security audits and code reviews: Conducting regular security audits and code reviews could have potentially identified the Shellshock vulnerability in the Bash software earlier, allowing for timely patching and mitigation [Article 30108]. 2. Increased resources and support for open-source projects: Providing more resources, funding, and support for open-source projects like Bash could help ensure that critical software components receive adequate attention, maintenance, and updates to prevent long-standing vulnerabilities from going unnoticed [Article 30108]. 3. Prompt software updates and patches: Ensuring that software updates and patches are promptly released and applied by system administrators and users can help mitigate the impact of known vulnerabilities like Shellshock [Article 30185]. 4. Enhanced collaboration and information sharing within the cybersecurity community: Improving collaboration and information sharing within the cybersecurity community can help raise awareness about potential vulnerabilities, facilitate quicker responses to emerging threats, and enable more effective mitigation strategies [Article 30185]. |
| Fixes | 1. Updating every vulnerable device with a patch provided by software makers [30278, 30185] 2. Conducting security audits on open-source software like Bash to identify and fix bugs [30108] 3. Implementing security measures such as antivirus software and firewalls [30185] | References | 1. Article 29824 gathers information from various sources, including interviews with security experts, researchers, and individuals involved in the incident. 2. Article 30109 gathers information from security experts, including Ryan Lackey, Robert Graham, and Chris Wysopal, as well as from internet infrastructure provider CloudFlare. 3. Article 30141 gathers information from interviews with Brian J. Fox, Chet Ramey, security researchers like Stephane Chazelas, and security experts like Tim Watson. 4. Article 30053 gathers information from security experts, including Tod Beardsley, as well as from the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT). 5. Article 30278 gathers information from Apple's statement to CNET, security researchers like Robert Graham, and Linux Foundation's executive director Jim Zemlin. 6. Article 30108 gathers information from interviews with Brian Fox, Chet Ramey, security researcher Stephane Chazelas, and security experts like Robert Graham and Tim Watson. 7. Article 30185 gathers information from security experts, including Chris Wysopal, as well as from Google security researcher Tavis Ormandy and US-CERT. |
| Category | Option | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring | one_organization, multiple_organization | (a) The software failure incident has happened again at one_organization: - The incident of the Shellshock vulnerability affecting the Bash software has occurred again, following the previous Heartbleed vulnerability that affected OpenSSL [29824]. - The Bash bug, also known as Shellshock, was discovered in the Bash software, which was created by Brian J. Fox and is used in many Unix and Linux systems, including Apple's Mac OS X [30141]. - Apple Mac computers were affected by the Shellshock vulnerability, similar to how they were impacted by the Heartbleed bug earlier [30278]. (b) The software failure incident has happened again at multiple_organization: - The Shellshock vulnerability affected a wide range of devices and systems, including Unix-based operating systems like Linux and Apple's Mac OS X, potentially spreading to all internet-connected devices [30185]. - The Heartbleed bug, which affected OpenSSL, was compared to the Shellshock vulnerability in terms of impact and severity, indicating a recurring issue with software vulnerabilities affecting multiple organizations and systems [30185]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) | design, operation | (a) The software failure incident occurring due to the development phases: - The Shellshock vulnerability in the Bash software was a result of a bug introduced around 1992 by the lead developer, Chet Ramey, while working on a new Bash feature [Article 30141]. - The bug was discovered by security researcher Stéphane Chazelas on September 12, 2014, and was found to be one of the oldest known and unpatched bugs in computing history [Article 30108]. - The bug was not detected for over 22 years, highlighting a lack of comprehensive auditing and security checks during the development and maintenance of the software [Article 30141]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to the operation phases: - The Shellshock vulnerability allowed hackers to exploit the Bash bug to take control of vulnerable systems, potentially affecting millions of websites and internet-connected devices [Article 30185]. - The bug could be exploited to read or send emails, copy banking data, turn on webcams, or listen in on microphones, showcasing the operational impact on user privacy and security [Article 30185]. - System administrators and software companies were scrambling to patch vulnerable systems to mitigate the potential for attacks due to the operational misuse of the Bash bug [Article 30185]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) | within_system, outside_system | (a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the Bash bug, also known as Shellshock, was primarily due to a vulnerability in the Bash software itself, which is a command-line shell used in many Unix and Linux operating systems [30185]. The bug allowed hackers to exploit the Bash shell to take complete control of a system, potentially affecting devices using Unix-based operating systems like Linux and Mac OS X [30185]. The bug was present in the code for over 25 years, indicating a long-standing issue within the software itself [30108]. (b) outside_system: The software failure incident was also influenced by external factors such as the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats and the interconnected nature of the internet. Hackers were quick to exploit the vulnerability, with attacks being launched within hours of the bug being disclosed [30027]. The bug posed a serious threat to internet-connected devices, including smart appliances, highlighting the broader impact beyond traditional computing devices [30185]. Additionally, the responsibility to patch the vulnerability rested with website and server owners, emphasizing the external influence of system administrators and software makers in mitigating the issue [30185]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) | non-human_actions, human_actions | (a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions: - The Shellshock vulnerability, also known as the Bash bug, was a software failure incident caused by a flaw in the Bash command line shell software used in Unix-based operating systems like Linux and Mac OS X [Article 30185]. - The bug allowed hackers to exploit the Bash software to take control of systems, potentially affecting millions of websites and internet-connected devices [Article 30185]. - The Shellshock bug was considered more severe than the Heartbleed bug, as it could allow hackers to run unauthorized code and take over entire systems [Article 30185]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions: - The Shellshock vulnerability was discovered in the Bash software, which was maintained by developers and engineers over the years, including a lead developer named Chet Ramey [Article 30108]. - The bug was introduced into the Bash code around 1992, possibly by Chet Ramey himself, highlighting a human error in the development process that went unnoticed for over 20 years [Article 30108]. - The lack of comprehensive security audits and the limited resources dedicated to maintaining the Bash software contributed to the vulnerability being present in the code for an extended period without detection [Article 30108]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) | software | (a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware: - There is no specific mention of the software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware in the provided articles. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to software: - The software failure incident known as Shellshock, also referred to as the Bash bug, was caused by a vulnerability in the Bash command line shell software used in Unix and Linux systems [30185]. - The Shellshock bug allowed hackers to exploit the Bash software to take control of systems, potentially affecting millions of websites and internet-connected devices [30185]. - The bug was considered more severe than the Heartbleed bug, as it could allow unauthorized users to remotely gain control of vulnerable systems by exploiting the Bash weakness [30278]. - The Shellshock vulnerability was discovered in the Bash software, which is a widely used command-line shell that interfaces with operating systems, allowing attackers to run unauthorized code and potentially take over entire machines [30141]. - The Bash bug was found to be one of the oldest known and unpatched bugs in computing history, with the potential to allow hackers to wreak havoc on the modern internet by exploiting the vulnerability in the Bash software [30108]. - The impact of the Shellshock bug was rated as 'catastrophic,' with a maximum impact severity rating and low complexity of exploitation, making it relatively easy for hackers to launch attacks by exploiting the software vulnerability [30185]. - The responsibility to fix the Shellshock bug and apply patches to vulnerable systems lies with website or server owners, as everyday users cannot protect themselves against the vulnerability [30185]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) | malicious, non-malicious | From the articles provided: (a) Malicious: - The software failure incident related to the Bash bug, also known as Shellshock, was considered a malicious incident as it allowed hackers to easily exploit vulnerabilities in web servers and potentially take control of systems [Article 29824]. - The Shellshock bug was compared to the Heartbleed bug, with experts warning that it could be a bigger threat as it allowed attackers to take over entire machines [Article 30141]. - Security experts warned that the Bash bug could be exploited by hackers to take control of systems, potentially leading to the installation of malware and the creation of botnets for malicious activities [Article 30027]. - The Bash bug was described as a serious security flaw that could allow hackers to take over operating systems, posing a significant threat to computers and internet-connected devices [Article 30278]. - The Bash bug was rated as a '10' for severity, indicating maximum impact, and 'low' for complexity of exploitation, making it relatively easy for hackers to launch attacks [Article 30185]. (b) Non-malicious: - The article mentioned that the Bash bug was discovered by security researchers after being unnoticed for more than two decades, indicating a non-malicious introduction of the bug into the software [Article 30141]. - The discovery of the Shellshock bug highlighted the issue of unpatched bugs in open-source software that could continue to plague the internet unless software development practices are revamped [Article 30108]. - The responsibility to fix the Bash bug was with website or server owners, indicating that the introduction of the bug was not intentional but rather a result of oversight in software development [Article 30185]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) | accidental_decisions | (a) The intent of the software failure incident was accidental_decisions. The software failure incident related to the Bash bug, also known as Shellshock, was not due to poor decisions but rather accidental decisions or mistakes. The bug was introduced into the Bash code around 1992 by the lead developer, Chet Ramey, who believes he inadvertently introduced the bug while working on a new Bash feature [Article 30141]. The bug went unnoticed for over 20 years until it was discovered by security researchers, indicating that it was not intentionally introduced but rather a mistake that remained undetected for a long time [Article 30108]. The accidental nature of the bug is further emphasized by the fact that the lead developer of Bash, Chet Ramey, works on the software as an unpaid hobby alongside his day job at Case Western Reserve University [Article 30141]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) | development_incompetence, accidental | (a) The software failure incident occurring due to development incompetence: - The Shellshock vulnerability in the Bash software was a significant software failure incident that allowed hackers to exploit many web servers [30109]. - The bug in the Bash software was present for over 25 years before being discovered, indicating a lack of proper auditing and security checks over the years [30108]. - The Bash bug was not fully audited for security vulnerabilities, and the open-source community did not have enough resources to conduct thorough audits, leading to the long-standing bug going unnoticed [30108]. - The incident highlighted the issue of legacy code not being properly reviewed and maintained, which could lead to severe vulnerabilities in widely used software [30108]. (b) The software failure incident occurring accidentally: - The Shellshock vulnerability in the Bash software was discovered accidentally by a security researcher named Stephane Chazelas, who identified the flaw and worked with others to develop a patch [30108]. - The accidental introduction of the bug in the Bash software was likely due to a coding error by the lead developer, Chet Ramey, around 1992, which went unnoticed for over 20 years [30108]. - The accidental nature of the bug discovery and the subsequent rapid exploitation by hackers highlighted the potential risks of accidental vulnerabilities in widely used software systems [30108]. - The incident demonstrated how accidental coding errors and lack of comprehensive logging could lead to severe security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors [30108]. |
| Duration | temporary | (a) The software failure incident related to the Bash bug, also known as Shellshock, can be considered a temporary failure. The bug was discovered in the Bash software, affecting Unix-based operating systems like Linux and Apple's Mac OS X. The bug allowed hackers to exploit the system and potentially take control of devices connected to the internet. Security experts warned that the bug posed a serious threat to computers and internet-connected devices, with the potential to spread to a wide range of systems [Article 30185]. The bug was considered a significant vulnerability, with a severity rating of '10' for impact and 'low' for complexity of exploitation. It was highlighted that the responsibility to fix the flaw lies with website or server owners, who needed to deploy patches immediately to address the issue [Article 30185]. Furthermore, the bug was compared to the Heartbleed bug, which affected millions of sites earlier that year. Unlike Heartbleed, which only allowed hackers to spy on computers, the Bash bug allowed for more severe actions such as taking control of systems, accessing confidential information, making changes, and more [Article 30185]. |
| Behaviour | omission, value, other | (a) crash: The articles do not mention any instances of a crash related to the software failure incident. (b) omission: The Shellshock vulnerability allowed hackers to exploit the Bash software, potentially leading to the omission of performing intended functions correctly. The flaw could allow unauthorized users to remotely gain control of vulnerable systems [Article 30185]. (c) timing: The Shellshock vulnerability did not involve timing issues, but rather the potential for unauthorized access and control of systems [Article 30185]. (d) value: The Shellshock vulnerability could lead to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly, such as allowing hackers to read information, edit, delete, or copy files, and run programs without the user's knowledge [Article 30185]. (e) byzantine: The Shellshock vulnerability did not exhibit byzantine behavior, which involves inconsistent responses and interactions. (f) other: The Shellshock vulnerability could be considered a security flaw that allowed unauthorized access and control of systems, potentially leading to various security breaches and malicious activities [Article 30185]. |
| Layer | Option | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Perception | None | None |
| Communication | None | None |
| Application | None | None |
| Category | Option | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Consequence | property, non-human, theoretical_consequence | (a) death: There were no reports or indications of people losing their lives due to the software failure incident described in the articles. (b) harm: There were no reports or indications of people being physically harmed due to the software failure incident described in the articles. (c) basic: There were no reports or indications of people's access to food or shelter being impacted because of the software failure incident described in the articles. (d) property: The software failure incident described in the articles impacted people's material goods, money, or data. For example, the Shellshock vulnerability could potentially allow hackers to gain access to confidential information, make changes, and more [Article 30185]. (e) delay: There were no reports or indications of people having to postpone an activity due to the software failure incident described in the articles. (f) non-human: Non-human entities, such as internet-connected devices like smart light bulbs, smart locks, and other appliances, were impacted by the software failure incident. The Shellshock bug could potentially allow hackers to gain access to every internet-enabled device in a person's home [Article 30185]. (g) no_consequence: There were observed consequences of the software failure incident described in the articles. (h) theoretical_consequence: There were potential consequences discussed regarding the software failure incident, such as the potential for hackers to exploit the vulnerability to take control of systems, access confidential information, and launch attacks [Article 30185]. (i) other: There were no other specific consequences mentioned in the articles beyond the impact on material goods, money, data, and non-human entities due to the software failure incident. |
| Domain | information, finance, government | (a) The failed system was related to the information industry as it affected web servers and software used for communication and data processing [29824, 30109, 30141, 30053, 30278, 30185]. (b) The transportation industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (c) The natural_resources industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (d) The sales industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (e) The construction industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (f) The manufacturing industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (g) The utilities industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (h) The finance industry was indirectly related as there were mentions of potential risks to banking data and financial information due to the software vulnerabilities [30185]. (i) The knowledge industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (j) The health industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (k) The entertainment industry was not directly mentioned in the articles as the focus was on software vulnerabilities and security flaws. (l) The government industry was indirectly related as there were mentions of potential risks to public services and government systems due to the software vulnerabilities [30185]. (m) The other industry was not explicitly mentioned in the articles. |
Article ID: 29824
Article ID: 30109
Article ID: 30141
Article ID: 30053
Article ID: 30027
Article ID: 30278
Article ID: 30108
Article ID: 30185