| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the major security flaw in Android known as Stagefright has highlighted a long-standing security problem with Android, specifically the speed at which fixes for software errors filter down to end users. Google, the maker of the Android operating system, faces challenges in pushing patches to the vast majority of Android phones produced by other companies such as HTC, LG, or Samsung. These companies often have to negotiate with mobile network operators to send patches to end users. Additionally, only the newest Android phones receive patches, leaving older devices vulnerable to such security flaws [37798].
(b) The software failure incident involving the Stagefright vulnerability in Android has raised concerns about the security of mobile devices beyond Google's own line of Android phones. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Android devices dating back to 2010, potentially leaving a significant number of phones vulnerable to exploitation. This highlights a broader issue in the mobile industry where software vulnerabilities may not be promptly addressed across various manufacturers and network operators, posing a serious security risk for users of different devices [37798]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the major security flaw in Android known as Stagefright. The flaw allows an attacker to take control of a phone by sending a maliciously crafted video that exploits the Stagefright component of the Android operating system [37798].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is highlighted by the fact that even with Android's default messaging app, users can trigger the Stagefright vulnerability by simply viewing a message containing the malicious video. This indicates a failure in the operation or handling of incoming messages on Android devices [37798]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the major security flaw in Android, known as Stagefright, is primarily a within_system failure. The vulnerability originates from within the Android operating system itself, specifically affecting the Stagefright component that processes media content. The flaw allows attackers to exploit the system by sending a maliciously crafted video that can execute code on the device, potentially compromising user data and privacy [37798].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident also involves contributing factors that originate from outside the system. One key factor is the challenge in distributing patches and fixes for the vulnerability to end users. Google, as the maker of the Android operating system, faces difficulties in pushing updates to the vast array of Android devices produced by various manufacturers like HTC, LG, and Samsung. The process involves negotiations with mobile network operators, leading to delays in deploying critical security updates to all affected devices [37798]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the Android operating system, known as Stagefright, was due to a major security flaw that allowed an attacker to take control of a phone simply by sending a text message containing a maliciously crafted video. This flaw was present in a part of the Android operating system called Stagefright, which processes media content. The vulnerability could be triggered without the user actually playing the video, making it a significant non-human action-related failure [37798].
(b) On the human actions side, the researcher Joshua Drake discovered the Stagefright vulnerability and reported it to Google. He provided patches for the errors to Google, giving the company a 90-day embargo before going public with the details. This highlights the importance of human actions in identifying, reporting, and addressing software vulnerabilities [37798]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the article is primarily due to contributing factors that originate in software. The major security flaw in Android, known as Stagefright, allows an attacker to take control of a phone by sending a maliciously crafted video that exploits vulnerabilities in the Android operating system [37798].
The flaw in Stagefright, which is a software component that handles media content, can lead to various malicious activities such as reading and deleting data, spying on the user through the camera and microphone, and taking over the phone without the user even playing the video. This vulnerability in the software poses a serious security risk to users [37798]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious in nature. The major security flaw in Android, known as Stagefright, allows an attacker to take control of a phone by sending a text message containing a maliciously crafted video. This video can then be used to deliver a program that runs on the phone, potentially enabling the attacker to read and delete data, spy on the owner through the camera and microphone, and perform other unauthorized actions [37798]. The flaw was discovered by a researcher named Joshua Drake, who provided patches to Google to address the vulnerability. The severity of the bug was compared to "Heartbleed for mobile" by Chris Wysopal, emphasizing the serious security risk it poses to users [37798].
(b) The software failure incident is non-malicious in the sense that it was not caused by unintentional errors or faults in the system. Instead, it was a result of a deliberate security flaw in the Android operating system, specifically in the Stagefright component, which was exploited by attackers to compromise the security of Android devices [37798]. The incident highlights the challenges in quickly distributing patches and fixes to end users, as Google does not have direct control over updating the vast majority of Android phones produced by various manufacturers [37798]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the major security flaw in Android, known as Stagefright, can be attributed to poor decisions made in the development and handling of the Android operating system. The vulnerability allowed an attacker to take control of a phone simply by sending a text message containing a maliciously crafted video [37798].
One of the poor decisions highlighted in the incident was the automatic pre-processing of videos by Google's messaging app Hangouts, which increased the risk of exploitation as the video could take over the phone before the user even realized they had received a message [37798]. Additionally, the delay in pushing patches and fixes for the vulnerability to end users due to the fragmented nature of Android updates across different manufacturers and network operators also contributed to the severity of the issue [37798]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the Android Stagefright vulnerability. The flaw in the Android operating system, specifically in the Stagefright component, allowed attackers to take control of a phone by sending a maliciously crafted video via MMS. This vulnerability was discovered by researcher Joshua Drake, who provided patches to Google to fix the errors. However, the incident highlighted the challenge of timely patch distribution to end users, as Google does not have direct control over pushing updates to the wide range of Android devices produced by various manufacturers like HTC, LG, and Samsung [37798].
(b) The accidental nature of the software failure incident is seen in how the Stagefright vulnerability was identified in a laboratory setting on older Android devices. Google mentioned that as far as they knew, no one had been affected by the vulnerability before they took immediate action to send a fix to their partners to protect users. The discovery of the vulnerability by Drake and the subsequent actions taken by Google indicate that the incident was not intentional but rather a result of unforeseen weaknesses in the Android system [37798]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is more of a permanent nature. The security flaw in Android's Stagefright component allowed an attacker to take control of a phone by sending a maliciously crafted video, potentially leading to serious consequences such as data theft, spying through the camera and microphone, and more [37798].
The vulnerability affected a wide range of Android devices, including Google's Nexus phones, and the flaw was present in the Android operating system dating back to versions as early as 2010 [37798]. Despite patches being provided to Google by the researcher who discovered the bug, the challenge lay in the distribution of these fixes to end-users due to the fragmented nature of the Android ecosystem, where different manufacturers and mobile network operators were involved in the patching process [37798].
This incident highlights the long-standing issue of timely software updates reaching all affected devices, indicating a more permanent impact of the software failure incident on the Android ecosystem. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article can be categorized as a crash. The vulnerability in the Android operating system, specifically in the Stagefright component, allows an attacker to take control of a phone simply by sending a text message containing a maliciously crafted video. This exploit can cause the phone to run a program as soon as the video is processed by Stagefright, potentially leading to the system losing control and allowing the attacker to perform various unauthorized actions, such as reading and deleting data or spying on the user through the camera and microphone [37798].
(b) omission: The software failure incident can also be categorized as an omission. Users do not have to play the video in order to be affected by the vulnerability; simply viewing the message containing the video can trigger the Stagefright exploit. This omission of the need to actively engage with the video content highlights the severity of the flaw, as the system fails to perform its intended function of protecting users from malicious content [37798].
(c) timing: The timing of the software failure incident is not explicitly mentioned in the article. However, the vulnerability in the Android operating system allows for immediate exploitation upon processing the malicious video, indicating that the system may be performing its intended functions correctly but at an inappropriate time, leading to unauthorized access and control by the attacker [37798].
(d) value: The software failure incident can be associated with a failure in the value aspect. The Stagefright vulnerability allows the system to perform its intended function of processing media content, but it does so incorrectly by executing malicious code embedded in the video, leading to unauthorized access and control over the device. This incorrect behavior compromises the security and integrity of the system, indicating a failure in the value aspect of software functionality [37798].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not align with a byzantine behavior as described in the article. The vulnerability in the Android operating system, while severe and allowing for unauthorized access and control, does not exhibit inconsistent responses or interactions. The exploit functions in a consistent manner by leveraging the Stagefright component to execute the malicious code embedded in the video, demonstrating a clear and predictable attack vector [37798].
(f) other: The software failure incident can be further categorized as a failure related to the lack of timely patch deployment and coordination among various stakeholders. The article highlights the challenge of distributing patches for vulnerabilities in the Android operating system, particularly for devices produced by different manufacturers and running older versions of the software. The delay in patch deployment and the fragmented nature of the Android ecosystem contribute to the system's failure to promptly address critical security issues, emphasizing the importance of efficient coordination and distribution of software updates to mitigate risks [37798]. |