| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
The article mentions that the Iranian government-sponsored hackers compromised the network of an unnamed US federal government agency by exploiting a widely known vulnerability that had been previously warned about by CISA in December 2021 [135388]. This indicates a recurrence of a similar incident within the same organization or its network.
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
The article discusses how the hacking programs of major world powers, including China and Iran, often rely on contractors for cyber activities, providing plausible deniability for the governments involved. It specifically mentions that US authorities have accused Iranian regime contractors of hacking and extorting US companies and organizations, indicating a pattern of similar incidents happening at multiple organizations [135388]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to the design phase. The Iranian government-sponsored hackers compromised the network of a US federal government agency by exploiting a widely known vulnerability that had been previously highlighted by CISA in December 2021 [135388]. This indicates that the failure was due to contributing factors introduced during the system development or system updates, specifically related to the design flaws or vulnerabilities that were not adequately addressed.
(b) Additionally, the software failure incident can also be linked to the operation phase. The hackers were able to steal passwords on the network and install software to generate cryptocurrency, indicating that the failure was also influenced by factors introduced during the operation or misuse of the system [135388]. The breach was responded to in June by officials at the Department of Homeland Security to clean up the network, highlighting the impact of operational factors on the incident. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is within_system. The failure was caused by Iranian government-sponsored hackers compromising the network of a US federal government agency by exploiting a vulnerability and installing software to generate cryptocurrency [135388]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to non-human actions. Iranian government-sponsored hackers compromised the network of a US federal government agency by exploiting a widely known vulnerability and installing software to generate cryptocurrency [135388].
(b) However, human actions were also involved in this software failure incident as the hackers, allegedly government contractors, actively exploited the vulnerability and installed the software for their self-enrichment schemes [135388]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the article is primarily related to a hack carried out by Iranian government-sponsored hackers on a US federal government agency's network. The hackers compromised the network, stole passwords, and installed software to generate cryptocurrency [135388].
(b) The software failure incident is also related to a software vulnerability that was exploited by the hackers. The article mentions that the hackers exploited a widely known vulnerability that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) had warned about in December 2021. This indicates that the failure originated in the software due to the presence of a vulnerability that was not addressed promptly by the agency [135388]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious. Iranian government-sponsored hackers compromised the network of a US federal government agency with the objective of stealing passwords and installing software to generate cryptocurrency. The hackers exploited a vulnerability and used their access to the US government network for self-enrichment schemes, potentially benefiting the citizens of Iran. This indicates that the failure was due to contributing factors introduced by humans with the intent to harm the system [135388]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
The software failure incident described in the article [135388] appears to be related to poor_decisions. The Iranian government-sponsored hackers compromised the network of a US federal government agency by exploiting a widely known vulnerability that had been previously warned about by CISA. This indicates that the failure was due to contributing factors introduced by poor decisions, such as not addressing the known vulnerability promptly, allowing the hackers to gain access and carry out their activities. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is not attributed to development incompetence. The hackers exploited a widely known vulnerability that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) had warned about in December 2021, indicating that the breach was not due to incompetence in development [135388].
(b) The software failure incident in the article is more aligned with an accidental failure. The hackers compromised the network of a US federal government agency by exploiting a vulnerability, stealing passwords, and installing software to generate cryptocurrency. The breach went undetected for several months before being discovered and disclosed, highlighting how it can take time to identify such incidents. The motive of the hackers, believed to be Iranian government-sponsored, was unclear, but the installation of software for cryptocurrency generation suggests a self-enrichment scheme rather than a deliberate act of development incompetence [135388]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident described in the article is more aligned with a temporary failure rather than a permanent one. The incident involved Iranian government-sponsored hackers compromising the network of a US federal government agency, stealing passwords, and installing software to generate cryptocurrency. The hack likely began in February, but officials at the Department of Homeland Security responded to the breach in June to clean up the network [135388]. This indicates that the failure was temporary in nature, as it was eventually discovered and addressed, rather than being a permanent failure that persisted indefinitely. |
| Behaviour |
unknown |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. The incident is more focused on a hack carried out by Iranian government-sponsored hackers on a US federal government agency's network [135388].
(b) omission: The software failure incident does not involve a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). Instead, the incident revolves around the hackers compromising the network, stealing passwords, and installing software to generate cryptocurrency [135388].
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to a failure due to the system performing its intended functions correctly but too late or too early. The focus is on the timeline of the hack, which likely began in February but was responded to by officials in June to clean up the network [135388].
(d) value: The software failure incident does not involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. The incident is more about the hackers exploiting a vulnerability to carry out their activities on the compromised network [135388].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The incident is more about the actions of the Iranian government-sponsored hackers compromising the US government agency's network for potential self-enrichment schemes [135388].
(f) other: The software failure incident in the article does not fall under the categories of crash, omission, timing, value, or byzantine behaviors. The incident involves a deliberate hack by Iranian hackers to compromise a US federal government agency's network, steal passwords, and install software for cryptocurrency generation, showcasing a security breach rather than a system failure in its intended functions [135388]. |