| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to router hacking has happened again at the same organization. The article mentions that in 2011, there was a firmware vulnerability affecting six hardware manufacturers that led to the attack on 4.5 million Brazilian DSL modems, aiming to steal bank and credit card information [18168].
(b) The software failure incident related to router hacking has also happened at multiple organizations. The article mentions that the research firm Independent Security Evaluators found critical security vulnerabilities in 13 popular off-the-shelf wireless routers that could be exploited by a "moderately skilled adversary" [18168]. Additionally, the article references a report by security firm Rapid7 on wireless router hacking, indicating that this type of incident is not limited to a single organization [18168]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the article. The report by Independent Security Evaluators highlighted critical security vulnerabilities in 13 popular off-the-shelf wireless routers that could be exploited by a "moderately skilled adversary with LAN or WLAN access" [18168]. These vulnerabilities were present in the design of the routers, making them susceptible to unauthorized remote control and takeover from both local and wide-area networks. The need for router vendors to enhance their security measures indicates a failure in the design phase of these devices.
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is also apparent in the articles. The article mentions that some routers enable remote administration by default, which amplifies any vulnerabilities present in the system [18168]. This default setting contributes to the potential exploitation of the routers through operations that may not be secure, such as remote administration. Additionally, the article discusses how compromising a router can provide unauthorized access inside the firewall, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information like credit card numbers, passwords, and confidential documents [18168]. These operational aspects contribute to the failure of the system in maintaining secure operations. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the Wi-Fi router vulnerabilities can be categorized as within_system. The vulnerabilities identified in the routers were critical security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a "remote adversary" leading to unauthorized remote control of the router [18168]. These vulnerabilities were inherent to the design and implementation of the routers themselves, indicating that the failure originated from within the system.
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident can also be categorized as outside_system. The report highlighted that the best way to protect against these vulnerabilities is for router vendors to improve their security measures [18168]. This suggests that external factors, such as the actions or negligence of the router vendors in ensuring robust security measures, played a role in the software failure incident. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The article discusses how Wi-Fi routers, specifically 13 popular off-the-shelf wireless routers, were found to have critical security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a "remote adversary" leading to unauthorized remote control of the router. These vulnerabilities could allow for the takeover of routers from both the local network and Wide-Area Network (WAN) without requiring active management sessions. The vulnerabilities in the routers were identified as contributing factors to the potential software failure incident, and the need for router vendors to enhance security measures was emphasized [18168].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
The article mentions that some vendors responded promptly to the security vulnerabilities identified in the routers by providing beta firmware with fixes for testing within 72 hours. However, there were vendors who did not respond or escalate the issue effectively, leading to delays in addressing the vulnerabilities. This lack of timely response or effective escalation by certain vendors can be considered as contributing factors introduced by human actions that could impact the resolution of the software failure incident [18168]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The article discusses how Wi-Fi routers, which are hardware devices, were found to have critical security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a "remote adversary" leading to unauthorized remote control of the router [18168].
- It mentions that in 2011, a firmware vulnerability affecting hardware manufacturers combined with malicious scripts and DNS servers to attack Brazilian DSL modems, indicating a hardware-related vulnerability exploited by software means [18168].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The article highlights that the Wi-Fi routers evaluated had critical security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a "remote adversary," indicating software flaws in the router's firmware or software components [18168].
- It also mentions that compromising the router through hacking could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information like credit card numbers, passwords, and confidential documents, showcasing software-related security weaknesses [18168]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident discussed in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involves critical security vulnerabilities in wireless routers that could be exploited by a "remote adversary" to gain unauthorized remote control of the router [18168]. The vulnerabilities could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information such as credit card numbers, confidential documents, passwords, and photos [18168]. Additionally, the incident highlights how router hacking can provide access inside the firewall, allowing attackers to extract various types of sensitive data [18168]. The article also mentions previous incidents where router vulnerabilities were exploited for malicious purposes, such as attacking Brazilian DSL modems to steal bank and credit card information [18168]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions:
- The software failure incident in this case is related to poor decisions made by router vendors in terms of security vulnerabilities in their devices. The report highlighted that all 14 devices evaluated had critical security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a "remote adversary" [18168].
- The vulnerability analyst, Craig Heffner, mentioned that in some countries, ISPs provide routers with remote administration enabled by default, amplifying any vulnerabilities that exist [18168].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental_decisions:
- The software failure incident does not seem to be primarily related to accidental decisions. Instead, it is more focused on the deliberate actions or oversights of router vendors that led to critical security vulnerabilities in the devices [18168]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article. The report by Independent Security Evaluators highlighted critical security vulnerabilities in 13 popular off-the-shelf wireless routers that could be exploited by a "moderately skilled adversary" [18168]. This indicates a lack of professional competence in ensuring the security of these devices during the development process.
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also present in the article. The vulnerabilities identified in the routers were not intentional but were accidental weaknesses that could lead to unauthorized remote control of the devices [18168]. This accidental introduction of vulnerabilities could result from oversight or lack of thorough testing during the development phase. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to Wi-Fi router vulnerabilities discussed in the articles can be categorized as a temporary failure. This is because the vulnerabilities and security issues identified in the routers were due to specific circumstances such as critical security flaws and remote exploitation possibilities [18168]. The incident is not a permanent failure as it is highlighted that some vendors responded promptly by providing beta firmware with fixes within 72 hours, indicating that the issue can be addressed and mitigated [18168]. |
| Behaviour |
value, other |
(a) crash: The articles do not mention any specific incidents of software crashing or failing due to the system losing state and not performing any of its intended functions [18168].
(b) omission: The articles do not mention any specific incidents of software failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s) [18168].
(c) timing: The articles do not mention any specific incidents of software failure due to the system performing its intended functions correctly, but too late or too early [18168].
(d) value: The articles mention critical security vulnerabilities in wireless routers that could be exploited by a "remote adversary" and could lead to unauthorized remote control of the router, indicating a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly [18168].
(e) byzantine: The articles do not mention any specific incidents of software behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions [18168].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident mentioned in the articles is related to security vulnerabilities in wireless routers that could be exploited by remote adversaries, leading to unauthorized remote control of the routers. This behavior could be categorized as a security vulnerability or a security breach [18168]. |