| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Dirty Cow bug has affected multiple organizations, as it is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel which is widely used across various platforms and devices. The bug has been found in the core of almost every server on the internet, as well as in the Android operating system for smartphones. Major versions of Linux like Red Hat, Debian, and Ubuntu have already patched the bug, but for millions of other devices running Linux, especially embedded versions, applying the patch may be challenging or even impossible [48650].
(b) The Dirty Cow bug, a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel, has affected multiple organizations beyond just Linux itself. Android, which is based on the Linux kernel, is also impacted by this bug. While top-end Android devices like the Galaxy S7 and Pixel receive regular security updates, the majority of Android devices sold do not receive post-sale updates, leaving them vulnerable to such bugs. Google has confirmed that Android is one of the Linux distributions affected and has taken steps to alert Android partners about the issue [48650]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the development phase of design can be seen in the article [48650]. The incident involves a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel known as "Dirty Cow," which was introduced to the kernel nine years ago and remained unnoticed for much of that time. This vulnerability, officially called CVE–2016–5195, is a design flaw that allows an attacker to gain privilege escalation on the Linux kernel. The bug was a result of contributing factors introduced during the development phase of the system, highlighting the importance of thorough design reviews and testing to catch such critical vulnerabilities.
(b) The software failure incident related to the development phase of operation can also be observed in the same article [48650]. The Dirty Cow bug, being a privilege escalation vulnerability, can be exploited by an attacker who has already gained some measure of control over a specific computer to leverage that into total control. This type of failure is a result of contributing factors introduced during the operation or misuse of the system, emphasizing the significance of proper system operation and security practices to prevent such exploits. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the Dirty Cow bug in the Linux kernel can be categorized as a within_system failure. The bug, officially known as CVE-2016-5195, was introduced to the kernel nine years ago and remained unnoticed for a significant period of time [Article 48650]. This indicates that the vulnerability originated from within the system itself, highlighting an internal flaw in the Linux operating system that allowed for privilege escalation.
(b) outside_system: The articles do not provide information indicating that the software failure incident related to the Dirty Cow bug was caused by contributing factors originating from outside the system. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident related to non-human actions:
The software failure incident known as "Dirty Cow" was a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel that existed unnoticed for nine years. This bug allowed an attacker to gain privilege escalation on the Linux kernel. The bug was introduced to the kernel nine years ago and remained undetected for much of that time, highlighting a failure due to contributing factors introduced without human participation [Article 48650].
(b) The software failure incident related to human actions:
The article does not specifically mention any contributing factors introduced by human actions that led to the Dirty Cow bug. It primarily focuses on the bug itself, its impact, and the challenges in patching it across various devices and systems. Therefore, there is no direct information provided about contributing factors introduced by human actions in this particular incident [Article 48650]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The article mentions a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel, known as "Dirty Cow," which allows an attacker to gain privilege escalation on the Linux kernel [48650].
- The vulnerability has existed unnoticed for nine years, indicating a long-standing issue that originated in the hardware level [48650].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The Dirty Cow bug, officially called CVE–2016–5195, is a software vulnerability that was introduced to the Linux kernel nine years ago and has been sitting unnoticed for much of that time [48650].
- The bug is a class of vulnerability known as a "privilege escalation bug," which is a software issue that allows an attacker to leverage control over a specific computer into total control [48650]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious, non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Dirty Cow bug can be categorized as malicious. The bug allows an attacker to gain privilege escalation on the Linux kernel, which means that an attacker who has already gained some measure of control over a specific computer can leverage that into total control [48650]. Additionally, an exploit taking advantage of Dirty Cow has already been found in the wild, indicating that the vulnerability can be actively exploited by malicious actors [48650].
(b) The incident can also be considered non-malicious in the sense that the bug was originally introduced to the kernel nine years ago and remained unnoticed for much of that time [48650]. The research team highlighted that while Dirty Cow is serious, the more common and less spectacular bugs are also important and should not be overlooked [48650]. The age of the bug and the difficulty in applying patches to all affected devices, particularly embedded versions of Linux and Android, contribute to the non-malicious aspect of the incident. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Dirty Cow bug in the Linux kernel can be attributed to poor decisions. The bug, which allowed for privilege escalation, was introduced to the kernel nine years ago and remained unnoticed for a significant amount of time [Article 48650]. This indicates a lack of thorough code review and testing processes that would have potentially caught such critical vulnerabilities earlier. Additionally, the fact that the bug was not addressed promptly despite its age highlights a failure in prioritizing security and timely patching of known issues. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article. The Dirty Cow bug, which is a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel, existed unnoticed for nine years. This bug, officially called CVE–2016–5195, was introduced to the kernel nine years ago and remained undetected for much of that time. The research team highlighted that the bug had been sitting in the code for years, reaching about five years old before being fixed, indicating a lack of thorough code review and testing processes [48650].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also present in the article. The Dirty Cow bug was described as a class of vulnerability known as a "privilege escalation bug," which allows an attacker to gain total control over a computer after gaining some initial control. The bug was not intentionally introduced but was a result of oversight and lack of detection over the years. The accidental nature of this failure is highlighted by the fact that the bug was not deliberately planted but remained hidden in the code until its discovery [48650]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Dirty Cow bug in the Linux kernel can be considered as a permanent failure. The bug had existed unnoticed for nine years, indicating that the contributing factors leading to the vulnerability were present in the code for a significant duration [Article 48650]. Additionally, the bug was already patched on some major versions of Linux, but for millions of other devices running Linux, particularly embedded versions, applying the patch was difficult or potentially nonexistent, further emphasizing the long-lasting impact of the bug [Article 48650]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, value, other |
(a) crash: The article mentions that the Dirty Cow bug is a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel that allows an attacker to gain privilege escalation. An exploit for this bug has already been found in the wild, indicating a potential for system crashes or failures due to the loss of control over the system [48650].
(b) omission: The article does not specifically mention any instances of the system omitting to perform its intended functions. Therefore, there is no direct evidence of omission as a behavior of the software failure incident in the provided article.
(c) timing: The article does not discuss any issues related to the system performing its intended functions too late or too early. Therefore, there is no indication of timing-related failures in the context of the software failure incident described.
(d) value: The Dirty Cow bug is classified as a privilege escalation bug, which means it allows an attacker to leverage control over a computer into total control. This indicates a failure of the system to perform its intended functions correctly, leading to unauthorized access and control [48650].
(e) byzantine: The article does not mention any erratic or inconsistent behavior of the system with regards to responses and interactions. Therefore, there is no evidence of a byzantine behavior in the software failure incident described.
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident described in the article can be categorized as a security vulnerability leading to unauthorized privilege escalation. This unauthorized access can potentially result in various types of system failures, including data breaches, system crashes, and unauthorized control over the affected devices [48650]. |