| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
The article reports that Lake Charles Memorial Health System experienced a ransomware attack where hackers accessed the personal data of nearly 270,000 patients. This incident is part of a series of ransomware attacks that have hit US health care providers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The article mentions that ransomware gangs such as Hive increasingly steal data from victim organizations before locking down computers to increase their leverage in ransom negotiations. This incident highlights the vulnerability of health care providers to cyberattacks, indicating a recurring issue within the organization [136934].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
The article mentions that the ransomware gang known as Hive has been responsible for multiple ransomware attacks, extorting about $100 million from over 1,300 companies worldwide, many of them in the health care sector. It also highlights other health care providers that have been targeted by ransomware attacks, such as SickKids in Canada and a network of hospitals in Brooklyn, New York. These incidents indicate a pattern of ransomware attacks targeting multiple health care organizations, showcasing a broader issue affecting various entities in the sector [136934]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the ransomware attack on the Lake Charles Memorial Health System. The incident was a result of hackers gaining unauthorized access to the system's personal data of nearly 270,000 patients. This breach was a direct consequence of vulnerabilities in the system's design and security measures, allowing the hackers to exploit these weaknesses and attempt a ransomware attack [136934].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the ransomware attack on SickKids, one of Canada's largest children's hospitals. Following the attack, the hospital faced challenges in fully restoring its computer systems, leading to diagnostic and treatment delays for some patients and families. This operational failure was a result of the cyberattack disrupting the hospital's day-to-day operations and causing a reliance on paper charts for weeks [136934]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident at Lake Charles Memorial Health System was due to hackers accessing the personal data of nearly 270,000 patients in an attempted ransomware attack. The health care provider's own security team detected the hack, indicating that the failure originated from within the system [136934].
(b) outside_system: The ransomware gang known as Hive took responsibility for hacking Lake Charles Memorial and dumped data belonging to the health system. This external threat actor was responsible for the attack, indicating that the contributing factors originated from outside the system [136934]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
- The software failure incident in this case was a result of a ransomware attack by a group known as Hive on the Lake Charles Memorial Health System, which attempted to encrypt its computers and access personal data of patients [136934].
- The ransomware gang Hive took responsibility for the hack and dumped data belonging to the health system on their dark website for extorting victims [136934].
- Ransomware gangs like Hive increasingly steal data from victim organizations before locking down computers to increase their leverage in ransom negotiations [136934].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
- The incident involved hackers who accessed the personal data of patients in an attempted ransomware attack on the Louisiana health care system [136934].
- Some ransomware operators have exploited stolen data to reach out to patients directly to demand payment under threat of releasing their patient records [136934].
- The article mentions that health care executives have grown more aware of hacking threats, and there is a focus on improving the sector's defenses through cybersecurity specialists and consultancies [136934]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The article reports a ransomware attack on Lake Charles Memorial Health System, where hackers attempted to encrypt its computers but were thwarted by the health care provider's security team [136934].
- The incident involved hackers accessing the personal data of nearly 270,000 patients, indicating a breach in the hardware security systems that allowed unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the computers [136934].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The ransomware attack on Lake Charles Memorial Health System was a result of hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in the software systems to gain access to patient data [136934].
- The incident involved the use of ransomware by a group known as Hive, which is a type of malicious software designed to encrypt data and demand ransom payments in exchange for decryption keys, highlighting a software-related failure in the system's security defenses [136934]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in this case is malicious. The incident involved hackers accessing the personal data of nearly 270,000 patients in an attempted ransomware attack on a Louisiana health care system. The hackers' objective was to encrypt the system's computers and extort money from the health care provider. The ransomware gang known as Hive took responsibility for the hack and even dumped data belonging to the health system on their dark website for extorting victims [136934]. The incident highlights the malicious intent of the attackers in compromising the system's security and exploiting the stolen data for financial gain. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor decisions can be seen in the ransomware attack on the Lake Charles Memorial Health System. The incident was a result of hackers attempting a ransomware attack on the health care system, aiming to encrypt its computers and access personal data of nearly 270,000 patients [136934]. This attack was part of a series of ransomware attacks on US health care providers, indicating a deliberate and malicious intent by the hackers to exploit vulnerabilities in the system for financial gain. Additionally, the ransomware gang known as Hive took responsibility for the attack and extorted millions of dollars from various companies, including those in the health care sector [136934]. The incident highlights the consequences of poor decisions in terms of cybersecurity measures and the potential impact on patient data and safety. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, unknown |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as it mentions that US health care providers, including Lake Charles Memorial Health System, are often short on cybersecurity resources, which makes them vulnerable to ransomware attacks [136934]. This lack of adequate cybersecurity resources can be attributed to a lack of professional competence in ensuring robust security measures to protect sensitive patient data.
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident reported in the articles is temporary. The incident involved a ransomware attack on the Lake Charles Memorial Health System, which was able to thwart the hackers' attempt to encrypt its computers and prevent any disruption to patient care [136934]. Additionally, the SickKids hospital in Canada mentioned that it could take weeks to fully restore its computer systems following a recent ransomware attack, indicating a temporary disruption [136934]. |
| Behaviour |
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 [136934].
(b) omission: The incident does not mention a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s) [136934].
(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 [136934].
(d) value: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly [136934].
(e) byzantine: The article does not mention a failure due to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions [136934].
(f) other: The software failure incident in the article is related to a hack where hackers accessed the personal data of patients in an attempted ransomware attack on a Louisiana health care system, leading to a data breach and potential extortion of the compromised data [136934]. |