| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the malware known as "agent.btz" infiltrating U.S. military networks has happened again within the same organization, specifically at the U.S. Central Command. The incident occurred in 2008, and new versions of the malware are still causing issues within U.S. networks [Article 6233].
(b) The incident involving the "agent.btz" malware has also affected multiple organizations beyond the U.S. military. The Department of Homeland Security mentioned that the malware is not limited to government computers and keeps evolving, posing a challenge to keep ahead of it. The extent of the damage and affected networks were not specified [Article 6233]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in Article 564, where the ban on thumb drives and other removable media on military networks was lifted by U.S. Strategic Command despite the original network security concerns not being fully addressed. The ban was initially imposed after the Agent.btz virus spread through military networks via thumb drives, highlighting a design flaw in the system's security measures [564].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in Article 6233, where the malware known as "agent.btz" infiltrated U.S. military networks in 2008 due to the operation of inserting an infected flash drive into a U.S. military laptop at a base in the Middle East. This operation-related failure allowed the malware to establish a digital beachhead for a foreign intelligence agency to attempt to steal data, showcasing a vulnerability in the system's operational practices [6233]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the malware attack involving the "agent.btz" worm was primarily within the system. The incident involved the infiltration of U.S. military networks by the malware, which established a "digital beachhead" for a foreign intelligence agency to attempt to steal data [Article 6233]. The attack spread undetected on both classified and unclassified systems, indicating a failure within the system's security measures to detect and prevent such intrusions [Article 6233].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident also had contributing factors originating from outside the system. The incident involved the use of infected flash drives that were inserted into U.S. military laptops at bases in the Middle East, indicating an external source introducing the malware into the system [Article 6233]. Additionally, the suspected origin of the attack was attributed to a foreign spy agency, with strong suspicions pointing towards Russian intelligence, suggesting an external threat actor targeting the system [Article 6233]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
- The incident involving the malware known as "Agent.btz" spread through infected flash drives and computer systems without direct human involvement, establishing a digital beachhead for a foreign intelligence agency [564].
- New versions of the malware, including more potent variations, continue to evolve and persist in U.S. networks, indicating a persistent and evolving threat introduced without direct human participation [6233].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
- The use of thumb drives and other removable media on military networks, despite security concerns and bans, contributed to the spread of malware like Agent.btz, highlighting human actions as a contributing factor to the security breach [564].
- The initial breach in 2008, where an infected flash drive was inserted into a U.S. military laptop, was a result of human actions that allowed the malware to infiltrate the systems, leading to significant consequences [6233]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The incident involving the malware known as "agent.btz" infiltrating U.S. military networks in 2008 was attributed to an infected flash drive being inserted into a U.S. military laptop at a base in the Middle East, indicating a hardware-related entry point for the attack [Article 6233].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The malware "agent.btz" itself, which infiltrated U.S. military networks, is a software-based threat that evolves and persists, challenging efforts to secure networks [Article 6233].
- The ban on thumb drives and other removable media on military networks by U.S. Strategic Command in response to the Agent.btz virus spreading through military networks highlights a software-related security concern [Article 564]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involved the infiltration of U.S. military networks by the "Agent.btz" malware, which was described as a worm that spreads by copying itself from thumb drive to computer and back again [564]. The attack established a "digital beachhead" for a foreign intelligence agency to attempt to steal data, leading to concerns about deliberate attacks on the Defense Department's networks [564]. Experts strongly suspect that the original attack was crafted by Russian intelligence, although the exact origin of the attackers remains closely-held information [6233].
(b) The incident was not non-malicious as it involved intentional actions by a foreign spy agency to breach U.S. military networks and steal data. The malware was designed to evade anti-virus defenses and continuously change its "signature" to remain a persistent threat [6233]. The attack was described as a network administrator's worst fear, with the malware operating silently and transferring data to servers under foreign control [6233]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident:
- The software failure incident related to the ban on thumb drives and other removable media on military networks was due to poor decisions made by U.S. Strategic Command. The ban was initially imposed in response to the Agent.btz virus spreading through military networks via thumb drives [564].
- The failure to effectively address the network security concerns and enforce the ban indefinitely despite the known risks of malware spreading through removable media indicates poor decisions in managing the security of military networks [564].
- The incident involving the malware agent.btz infiltrating U.S. military networks in 2008 was also a result of poor decisions, as it created a digital beachhead for a foreign intelligence agency to steal data. The attack was facilitated by the insertion of an infected flash drive into a U.S. military laptop, highlighting the consequences of inadequate security measures and decision-making [6233]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the articles. In Article 564, it is mentioned that the U.S. Strategic Command lifted the ban on thumb drives and other removable media on military networks despite ongoing network security concerns. The ban was initially imposed after the spread of the Agent.btz virus through military networks, which was a variation of the SillyFDC worm. The decision to lift the ban without fully addressing the underlying security issues reflects a lack of professional competence in ensuring the security of military networks [564].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also highlighted in the articles. In Article 6233, it is discussed how the malware known as agent.btz infiltrated U.S. military networks in 2008 through an infected flash drive inserted into a military laptop at a base in the Middle East. This accidental introduction of the malware led to significant consequences, including the establishment of a digital beachhead for a foreign intelligence agency to attempt to steal data. The evolving and persistent nature of the malware indicates that the initial breach was accidental but had long-lasting effects on network security [6233]. |
| Duration |
permanent, temporary |
(a) The software failure incident related to the malware known as "agent.btz" infiltrating U.S. military networks in 2008 was more of a permanent issue. The malware created a persistent threat that kept evolving and appearing in new, more potent variations even years after the initial breach [Article 6233]. The incident led to the establishment of the military's Cyber Command to counter such attacks [Article 6233].
(b) The temporary aspect of the software failure incident can be seen in the lifting of the ban on thumb drives and other removable media on military networks by U.S. Strategic Command. The ban was initially imposed in response to the spread of the Agent.btz virus through military networks via thumb drives. However, the ban was later partially lifted with new rules allowing the limited use of approved removable media under strict conditions [Article 564]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, byzantine, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in Article 564 involved a crash scenario where the Agent.btz virus spread through military networks by copying itself from thumb drive to computer and back again, leading to a situation where the system lost its state and was not performing its intended functions [564].
(b) omission: The incident also involved an omission scenario where the malware omitted to perform its intended functions at an instance(s) by establishing a digital beachhead for a foreign intelligence agency to attempt to steal data within the U.S. Central Command's computer systems [6233].
(c) timing: There is no specific mention of a timing-related failure in the articles.
(d) value: The incident did not involve a value-related failure.
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident exhibited a byzantine behavior where the Agent.btz malware continuously evolved and changed its "signature" to evade anti-virus software, resulting in inconsistent responses and interactions with the host networks [6233].
(f) other: The incident also involved other behaviors such as the persistent and evolving nature of the malware, the challenge of keeping ahead of new versions of the malware, and the uncertainty surrounding the origin of the attackers responsible for the attack [6233]. |