Incident: Security Vulnerabilities in Children's Internet-Connected Toys.

Published Date: 2015-11-26

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident related to the vulnerabilities in the LeapPad Ultimate tablet by LeapFrog happened in 2019 (Published on 2019-08-07) [#88445]. 2. The software failure incident related to the Wi-Fi enabled Barbie doll by Mattel occurred in 2015 (Published on 2015-11-26) [#53281, #53194, #57299].
System 1. LeapPad Ultimate tablet system [88445] 2. Hello Barbie doll system [53281, 53194, 57299]
Responsible Organization 1. ToyTalk and Mattel - ToyTalk, the software maker for Hello Barbie, and Mattel, the manufacturer of the doll, were responsible for causing the software failure incidents related to Hello Barbie [53281, 57299]. 2. LeapFrog - LeapFrog, the manufacturer of the LeapPad Ultimate tablet, was responsible for causing the software failure incident related to the vulnerabilities in the tablet [88445].
Impacted Organization 1. Children using the LeapPad Ultimate tablet [88445] 2. Children interacting with the Hello Barbie doll [53281, 53194, 57299]
Software Causes 1. Insecure internet connection and vulnerabilities in the LeapPad Ultimate tablet allowed attackers to intercept information, locate devices, and send messages to young users [Article 88445]. 2. Vulnerabilities in the Hello Barbie doll's software and cloud server allowed attackers to access recordings of children's conversations with the doll [Article 57299]. 3. Flaws in the companion app and ToyTalk's website account service for Hello Barbie were identified by security researchers [Article 57299].
Non-software Causes 1. Lack of proper security measures in internet-connected toys designed for children, leading to vulnerabilities that could compromise children's privacy and safety [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299] 2. Inadequate testing and oversight of the security features in the design and manufacturing process of the toys [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299] 3. Potential exploitation of children's data and privacy due to the vulnerabilities in the toys [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299]
Impacts 1. The software failure incidents involving the LeapPad Ultimate tablet and Hello Barbie dolls led to significant privacy and security concerns for children and their families [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299]. 2. The vulnerabilities in these internet-connected toys allowed attackers to intercept information, locate the devices, send messages to young users, and potentially access recordings of children's conversations [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299]. 3. The incidents raised questions about the safety and privacy of children's interactions with smart devices, highlighting the risks associated with IoT devices designed for kids [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299]. 4. The flaws in the software of these toys could have enabled hackers to access personal information, compromise home Wi-Fi networks, and potentially use the data for fraudulent activities [53281, 53194, 57299]. 5. The incidents prompted the manufacturers, such as LeapFrog and Mattel, to address the security vulnerabilities, remove problematic applications, and implement security measures to protect user data [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299]. 6. The software failures in these toys underscored the challenges consumers face in using internet-connected tech safely and highlighted the need for stronger security measures in IoT devices [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299].
Preventions 1. Implementing secure internet connections and encryption protocols to protect sensitive information being transmitted over the internet could have prevented the software failure incident with the LeapPad Ultimate tablet [88445]. 2. Conducting thorough security audits and testing of the software to identify vulnerabilities before releasing the product to the market could have prevented the software failure incident with the Hello Barbie doll [53281, 53194, 57299]. 3. Implementing robust security features in the software from the beginning of the development process and continuously monitoring and updating security measures could have prevented the software failure incidents with both the LeapPad Ultimate tablet and the Hello Barbie doll [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299].
Fixes 1. Implementing secure internet connections and encryption protocols to protect sensitive information being transmitted over the network [88445]. 2. Removing vulnerable applications or features that pose security risks, such as the Pet Chat application in the LeapPad Ultimate tablet [88445]. 3. Conducting thorough security audits and testing by cybersecurity experts to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in the software [88445, 57299]. 4. Establishing bug bounty programs to encourage researchers to report security flaws and streamline the process of addressing them [57299]. 5. Continuous monitoring and updating of software to patch any identified security vulnerabilities promptly [57299].
References 1. Checkmarx researchers [Article 88445] 2. US security researcher Matt Jakubowski [Article 53281] 3. Chicago-based security researcher Matt Jakubowski [Article 53194] 4. Security firm Bluebox researchers [Article 57299]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization: - Mattel's Wi-Fi enabled Barbie doll faced a software failure incident where it could be hacked to turn into a surveillance device for spying on children [Article 53281]. - Hello Barbie, an Internet-connected doll from Mattel, faced vulnerabilities where attackers could access recordings of children's conversations with the doll [Article 57299]. (b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization: - LeapFrog's LeapPad Ultimate tablet had security vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to intercept information, locate the devices, and send messages to young users [Article 88445]. - Mattel's Wi-Fi enabled Barbie doll also faced a similar issue where it could be hacked to act as a surveillance device by listening to conversations without the owner's knowledge [Article 53281].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident related to the design phase: - The LeapPad Ultimate tablet by LeapFrog had flaws that allowed attackers to intercept information, locate the devices, and send messages to young users due to sending information over an insecure internet connection and vulnerabilities in the Pet Chat application [Article 88445]. - Hello Barbie, an interactive doll by Mattel, was vulnerable to hacking, allowing easy access to the doll's system information, account information, stored audio files, and direct access to the microphone due to being connected to Wi-Fi and having security vulnerabilities in the application and cloud server [Article 53281]. - Hello Barbie faced security vulnerabilities that allowed attackers to access recordings of children's conversations with the doll due to flaws in the application and the cloud server that connects the doll to the Internet [Article 57299]. (b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase: - The LeapPad Ultimate tablet had flaws that could've let attackers intercept information, locate the devices, and send messages to young users due to vulnerabilities in the Pet Chat application, which allowed someone nearby to send children messages through Pet Chat [Article 88445]. - Hello Barbie was vulnerable to hacking, allowing access to recordings of children's conversations with the doll due to flaws in the application and the cloud server that connect the doll to the Internet, potentially allowing attackers to override privacy features [Article 53281]. - Hello Barbie faced security vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to access recordings of children's conversations with the doll due to flaws in the companion app and ToyTalk's website account service [Article 57299].
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system, outside_system (a) The software failure incidents reported in the articles are primarily within_system failures. In Article 88445, the LeapPad Ultimate tablet by LeapFrog had flaws that allowed attackers to intercept information, locate the devices, and send messages to young users due to sending information over an insecure internet connection and vulnerabilities in the Pet Chat application [88445]. Similarly, in Article 53281, the Hello Barbie doll by Mattel was found to be vulnerable to hacking, allowing access to the doll's system information, account information, stored audio files, and microphone [53281]. Furthermore, in Article 57299, additional vulnerabilities in Hello Barbie were discovered, allowing attackers to access recordings of children's conversations with the doll [57299]. (b) However, there are also elements of outside_system factors contributing to the failures. For example, in Article 53194, it is mentioned that the Hello Barbie doll connects to the internet via Wi-Fi to search responses to questions via software company ToyTalk, indicating a reliance on external internet connectivity [53194]. Additionally, the article discusses how the doll's software and cloud server could be accessed by attackers, suggesting vulnerabilities originating from external connections [57299].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions: - In the case of the Hello Barbie doll, security researchers discovered vulnerabilities in the application and cloud server that could allow attackers to access recordings of children's conversations with the doll [57299]. - The flaw in the Hello Barbie doll potentially allowed hackers to pinpoint home addresses of doll owners [57299]. - The LeapPad Ultimate tablet by LeapFrog had flaws that could let attackers intercept information, locate the devices, and send messages to young users. The vulnerabilities were identified by cybersecurity company Checkmarx, and the tablet was sending information over an insecure internet connection [88445]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions: - The vulnerabilities in the Hello Barbie doll were discovered by security researchers, indicating that the flaws were introduced through the design and implementation of the doll's software and cloud server [57299]. - The flaws in the LeapPad Ultimate tablet were identified by researchers from Checkmarx, highlighting potential security oversights in the design and development of the tablet's applications [88445]. - Both Mattel's Hello Barbie doll and LeapFrog's LeapPad Ultimate tablet faced security concerns due to vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers, indicating potential shortcomings in the initial software design and development processes [57299, 88445].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The articles do not provide information about a software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware. (b) The software failure incidents reported in the articles are related to vulnerabilities in the software of internet-connected toys, specifically the LeapPad Ultimate tablet by LeapFrog [88445] and the Hello Barbie doll by Mattel [53281, 53194, 57299]. These vulnerabilities allowed attackers to intercept information, locate devices, send messages to users, and potentially access recordings of children's conversations. The flaws in the software of these toys raised concerns about security and privacy, leading to researchers discovering and reporting the issues to the manufacturers for fixes.
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incidents reported in the articles are primarily malicious in nature. In Article 88445, it is reported that the LeapPad Ultimate tablet made for children had flaws that could have allowed attackers to intercept information, locate the devices, and send messages to young users [88445]. Similarly, Article 53281 discusses how Mattel's Hello Barbie doll could be hacked to turn it into a surveillance device for spying on children and listening to conversations without the owner's knowledge [53281]. Furthermore, Article 57299 reveals vulnerabilities in Hello Barbie that would allow attackers to access recordings of children's conversations with the doll [57299]. (b) The incidents described in the articles are non-malicious in nature, as they involve software failures caused by unintentional vulnerabilities in the products. These vulnerabilities were not introduced with the intent to harm the system but rather resulted from flaws in the design or implementation of the software.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions (a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions: - The software failure incidents related to the vulnerabilities in the LeapPad Ultimate tablet and Hello Barbie dolls can be attributed to poor decisions made during the development and implementation of the products [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299]. - In the case of the LeapPad Ultimate tablet, the flaws that allowed attackers to intercept information, locate devices, and send messages to young users were due to sending information over an insecure internet connection and having an application that exposed sensitive data [88445]. - Similarly, the Hello Barbie doll's vulnerabilities stemmed from poor decisions in the design and implementation of the doll's software and cloud server, allowing attackers to access recordings of children's conversations and potentially compromise the security of the device [53281, 53194, 57299]. - Both incidents highlight the importance of making sound decisions in ensuring the security and privacy of internet-connected devices, especially those targeted at children.
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence, accidental (a) The software failure incident occurring due to development incompetence: - Article 88445 reports on a software failure incident related to the LeapPad Ultimate tablet by LeapFrog. The tablet had flaws that allowed attackers to intercept information, locate the devices, and send messages to young users. The vulnerabilities were identified by cybersecurity company Checkmarx, indicating a lack of professional competence in ensuring the security of the device [88445]. (b) The software failure incident occurring accidentally: - Article 57299 discusses vulnerabilities found in the Hello Barbie doll, an Internet-connected toy from Mattel. Security researchers discovered flaws in the application and cloud server that could allow attackers to access recordings of children's conversations with the doll. These vulnerabilities were not intentional but were introduced accidentally during the development process, leading to potential security risks [57299].
Duration permanent (a) The articles describe software failure incidents that can be considered permanent. In the case of the LeapPad Ultimate tablet by LeapFrog, researchers identified flaws that could let attackers intercept information, locate the devices, and send messages to young users [Article 88445]. Similarly, the Hello Barbie doll by Mattel was found to be vulnerable to hacking, allowing access to the doll's system information, account information, stored audio files, and direct access to the microphone [Article 53281]. These vulnerabilities were inherent to the design and implementation of the software in these products, making them permanent failures.
Behaviour omission (a) crash: - Article 88445 reports a software failure incident where the LeapPad Ultimate tablet had flaws that could've allowed attackers to intercept information, locate devices, and send messages to young users. The vulnerabilities were identified by cybersecurity researchers and promptly fixed by the manufacturer, LeapFrog. The issues included sending information over an insecure internet connection and the Pet Chat application allowing location tracking and messaging capabilities [88445]. (b) omission: - Article 57299 discusses vulnerabilities found in the Hello Barbie doll, where attackers could access recordings of children's conversations with the doll. The flaws in the application and cloud server connecting the doll to the internet could allow attackers to bypass security protections and access the recorded conversations [57299]. (c) timing: - No specific instances of timing-related failures were mentioned in the provided articles. (d) value: - No specific instances of value-related failures were mentioned in the provided articles. (e) byzantine: - No specific instances of byzantine-related failures were mentioned in the provided articles. (f) other: - The articles do not provide information on software failure incidents related to other behaviors not covered in options (a) to (e).

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property (d) property: People's material goods, money, or data was impacted due to the software failure The software failure incidents described in the articles impacted people's property in various ways: 1. The vulnerabilities in the LeapPad Ultimate tablet could have allowed attackers to intercept information from the devices, locate them, and send messages to young users, potentially compromising children's names, genders, and approximate ages [Article 88445]. 2. The Hello Barbie doll, an Internet-connected toy, was found to have vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to access recordings of children's conversations with the doll, potentially compromising privacy and security [Article 57299]. 3. Hackers were able to obtain photos of children and chat logs from toymaker VTech, impacting the privacy and security of families who use VTech toys [Article 53194]. These incidents highlight how software failures can lead to property-related consequences by compromising personal data and privacy.
Domain information (a) The failed system was related to the information industry, specifically in the context of children's toys that involve the production and distribution of information. The incidents involved vulnerabilities in internet-connected toys like the LeapPad Ultimate tablet by LeapFrog and the Hello Barbie doll by Mattel, which could potentially compromise children's privacy and security by allowing attackers to intercept information, locate devices, and send messages to young users [88445, 53281, 53194, 57299]. These incidents highlight the risks associated with internet-connected devices designed for children and the importance of ensuring the safety and security of such products in the information industry.

Sources

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