| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to open ports and vulnerabilities in Android apps has happened again within the same organization or with its products and services. The article mentions a previous incident in late 2015 involving the Chinese company Baidu, which revealed that a software development kit it had developed left open ports on devices where it was installed, affecting more than 100 million users in total. Other major Chinese businesses, including Tencent and Qihoo, had already adopted the code, leading to a significant number of users being impacted [50542].
(b) The software failure incident related to open ports and vulnerabilities in Android apps has also happened at multiple organizations or with their products and services. The article highlights that more than half of the 1,632 apps that create open ports on phones have more than 500,000 downloads, indicating a widespread issue across various developers and companies. Additionally, the researchers identified several other vulnerable apps, some of which are popular in the Chinese market, suggesting a broader problem beyond just a few specific apps [50542]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the article. The vulnerability in various Android apps allowing open ports on smartphones was identified by researchers from the University of Michigan. They developed a software tool called OPAnalyzer to scan popular apps in the Google Play store and found that 1,632 applications created open ports on smartphones, potentially leaving them vulnerable to attacks [50542].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is also highlighted in the article. The vulnerability in apps like Wifi File Transfer and AirDroid was due to poor authentication or authentication flaws, allowing intruders to access sensitive files or hijack existing connections. While AirDroid quickly patched the issue after being notified, Wifi File Transfer's developers did not address the security problem even after being contacted by the researchers [50542]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident discussed in the articles is primarily within the system. The vulnerability arises from the way certain apps create open ports on smartphones, allowing attackers to exploit these ports to steal data, install malware, or take control of the device. The vulnerability is inherent in the design and implementation of these apps, making it a failure originating from within the system [50542].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident is also influenced by factors outside the system. For example, the vulnerability can be exploited remotely when a phone's IP address is publicly visible on the internet, allowing attackers to scan for open ports from anywhere and target vulnerable devices. This external factor of the phone's visibility on the internet contributes to the severity of the software failure incident [50542]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in this case is primarily due to the vulnerability introduced by certain apps creating open ports on smartphones, allowing attackers to exploit these ports to steal data, install malware, or take control of the device [50542].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
The vulnerability in this case was introduced by the developers of the apps who did not implement proper security measures, such as authentication mechanisms, to protect the open ports created by their apps. For example, the app Wifi File Transfer lacked any authentication like a password, allowing intruders to access sensitive files easily [50542]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The article does not mention any software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware. Therefore, there is no information available regarding a software failure incident related to hardware in the provided article [50542].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The software failure incident discussed in the article is related to software vulnerabilities in Android apps that create open ports on smartphones, leaving them exploitable by hackers. This software failure is due to contributing factors originating in the software design and implementation [50542]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident discussed in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involves vulnerabilities in certain Android apps that allow hackers to exploit open ports on smartphones, potentially leading to data theft, malware installation, and full control of the device by attackers [50542]. The vulnerabilities were identified by researchers from the University of Michigan who developed a software tool to scan popular apps in the Google Play store and found that some apps created open ports with weak or no protection, making them exploitable by hackers [50542]. The incident highlights how attackers can take advantage of these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information on Android devices, demonstrating a malicious intent to harm the system. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident was poor_decisions. The incident was caused by poor decisions made by developers in creating apps that left open ports on smartphones, making them vulnerable to attacks. The vulnerable apps, such as Wifi File Transfer and AirDroid, lacked proper authentication mechanisms, allowing intruders to access sensitive data and hijack connections [50542]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in the articles can be attributed to development incompetence. The vulnerability in the Android apps allowing open ports on smartphones was identified by researchers from the University of Michigan who developed a software tool called OPAnalyzer to scan popular apps in the Google Play store [Article 50542]. The vulnerability was due to the apps creating open ports without adequate protection, such as hardcoded passwords that could be easily derived and used by hackers. Additionally, the article mentions that the developers behind the vulnerable app Wifi File Transfer did not fix the security issue even after being notified by the researchers, highlighting a lack of attention to security concerns [Article 50542].
(b) The software failure incident can also be considered accidental to some extent. The article mentions that the vulnerability in the Android apps was not intentional but rather a result of how the apps were designed to allow users to connect to their phones from PCs for various purposes like sending text messages or transferring files [Article 50542]. The vulnerability was not a deliberate act but rather a consequence of how the apps utilized open ports without adequate protection, leading to the accidental exposure of sensitive data and potential exploitation by hackers. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident described in the articles is more aligned with a temporary failure rather than a permanent one. The vulnerability in the Android apps allowing open ports on smartphones was due to specific circumstances such as the apps' poor authentication mechanisms, which left the devices open to potential attacks by hackers [50542]. The vulnerability was not inherent to all circumstances but rather specific to the design and implementation of the apps, making it a temporary failure that could be addressed through proper security measures and patches. |
| Behaviour |
other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the articles does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. Instead, the failure is related to security vulnerabilities in certain Android apps that create open ports on smartphones, potentially allowing attackers to steal data or install malware [50542].
(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). The issue here is more about the unintended consequences of certain apps creating open ports on smartphones, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation [50542].
(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 security implications of apps creating open ports on Android devices, potentially allowing unauthorized access and data theft [50542].
(d) value: The software failure incident does not involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. Instead, the issue is about the security vulnerabilities introduced by certain apps that create open ports on smartphones, leading to potential data breaches and malware installations [50542].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The main concern is the security risk posed by apps that create open ports on Android devices, potentially allowing attackers to take control of the devices or steal sensitive information [50542].
(f) other: The software failure incident involves a security flaw in certain Android apps that create open ports on smartphones, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. This behavior can be categorized as a security vulnerability rather than a traditional software failure like a crash or timing issue [50542]. |