| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the security threat to laptop batteries demonstrated by Charlie Miller at the Black Hat security conference specifically targeted Apple Macintosh laptops. Miller showed how he could gain complete control of the microprocessor embedded in batteries used in Apple Macintosh laptops, potentially leading to dangerous outcomes such as overheating the battery and starting a fire [7284].
(b) The incident described in the article did not mention similar incidents happening at other organizations or with their products and services. Therefore, there is no information provided about the software failure incident occurring at multiple organizations. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article [7284]. The incident involved a security researcher demonstrating how he gained complete control of the microprocessor embedded in batteries used in Apple Macintosh laptops by exploiting vulnerabilities in the battery controller firmware. The incident highlighted flaws in the design of the battery controller system, where the default password to unseal the battery and enter full access mode was hard-coded, making it easier for attackers to manipulate the battery's firmware and potentially cause safety hazards such as overcharging, overheating, or fire.
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can also be observed in the same article [7284]. The incident described how malware could potentially slip past the defenses built into OS X and reside on a laptop, continuing to manipulate replacement batteries even if the OS were reinstalled. This scenario demonstrates how the operation of the system, including the interaction between the malware and the battery firmware, could lead to adverse consequences such as bricking replacement batteries or attempting to seize control of the computer. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is within_system. The security researcher demonstrated how he was able to gain complete control of the microprocessor embedded in batteries used in Apple Macintosh laptops by exploiting vulnerabilities within the battery's firmware and communication protocols. This internal manipulation allowed for potential dangerous actions such as bricking the battery, overcharging, and even causing fires [7284]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident related to non-human actions:
- The incident involved a security researcher gaining complete control of the microprocessor embedded in batteries used in Apple Macintosh laptops, allowing for the possibility of bricking the battery and potentially causing overheating or starting a fire [Article 7284].
(b) The software failure incident related to human actions:
- The security researcher demonstrated how he was able to gain control of the battery's firmware by exploiting the default password provided in Texas Instruments documentation, allowing for arbitrary configuration changes and potential safety hazards [Article 7284]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The incident described in the article involves a security threat to laptops' batteries, specifically Apple Macintosh laptops [7284].
- A security researcher demonstrated how he could gain complete control of the microprocessor embedded in the batteries and bypass built-in safeguards, potentially leading to dangerous outcomes like overheating and starting a fire [7284].
- The attack could also involve malware inserted into the battery's firmware, which could try to seize control of the computer even if the operating system were reinstalled [7284].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The incident involves software vulnerabilities in the battery controllers used in Apple laptops, which allowed the security researcher to manipulate the batteries and potentially cause harm [7284].
- The software aspect of the incident includes the discovery that Apple did not change the default battery password, making it easier for attackers to communicate with the battery and make arbitrary changes to the smart battery firmware [7284].
- The researcher released utilities that allowed for changing the password from its default setting, indicating a software-related vulnerability [7284]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in Article 7284 is malicious in nature. The incident involved a security researcher demonstrating how he could gain complete control of the microprocessor embedded in batteries used in Apple Macintosh laptops and potentially cause harm by overheating the battery and starting a fire. The researcher mentioned that he could "clearly brick the battery" and that with malware inserted into the battery's firmware, control of the computer could be seized even if the operating system were reinstalled. Additionally, the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in the communication between the laptops and their batteries, with the default battery password being hard-coded and not changed by Apple, potentially leading to safety hazards like overcharging, overheating, or fire [7284]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions:
- The software failure incident described in the article was related to poor decisions made in the design and implementation of the battery controller firmware for Apple Macintosh laptops.
- The security researcher, Charlie Miller, demonstrated how he was able to gain complete control of the microprocessor embedded in the batteries and bypass the built-in safeguards, potentially leading to dangerous outcomes like overheating and starting a fire.
- Miller highlighted that the default password to unseal the battery and enter full access mode was hard-coded, which allowed for unauthorized access and manipulation of the battery firmware, posing safety hazards such as overcharging, overheating, or fire risk.
- The incident showcased how poor decisions in maintaining default passwords and lack of robust security measures in the battery firmware could lead to significant vulnerabilities and potential safety risks ([7284]). |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence can be seen in the article [7284]. The security researcher demonstrated how he was able to gain complete control of the microprocessor embedded in batteries used in Apple Macintosh laptops and bypass the built-in safeguards. He mentioned that he could "brick the battery" and potentially overheat it to start a fire by convincing the controller that the battery was discharged when it was actually full. Additionally, the article highlighted that Apple did not change the default battery password, making it easier for the researcher to access and manipulate the battery firmware, which could lead to safety hazards like overcharging, overheating, or fire. These actions demonstrate a lack of professional competence in securing the battery software and firmware, leading to potential risks and failures.
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also evident in the article [7284]. The security researcher mentioned that he had not tried to overheat a battery to start a fire, indicating that such actions were not intentional but could potentially happen due to the vulnerabilities he discovered in the battery controller. The accidental nature of the incident is further emphasized by the possibility of malware slipping past OS defenses and bricking replacement batteries, which could occur unintentionally if proper security measures are not in place. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident described in Article 7284 can be categorized as a temporary failure. The incident involved a security researcher demonstrating how he was able to gain control of the microprocessor embedded in batteries used in Apple Macintosh laptops, potentially leading to dangerous outcomes such as overheating the battery and starting a fire. The incident was temporary in nature as it was caused by specific circumstances introduced by the security researcher's actions and the vulnerabilities in the battery controller software, rather than being a permanent failure inherent to the software itself. The incident could be mitigated by addressing the identified vulnerabilities and implementing appropriate security measures. |
| Behaviour |
other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article does not involve a crash where the system loses state and stops performing its intended functions. Instead, it focuses on the security threat posed by gaining control of the microprocessor embedded in batteries used in Apple Macintosh laptops [7284].
(b) omission: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). It primarily discusses the potential risks associated with gaining control of the battery microprocessor and the implications for battery safety and laptop security [7284].
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to a timing failure where the system performs its intended functions but at the wrong time. It revolves around the security implications of being able to manipulate the battery controller to potentially overcharge or overheat the battery, leading to safety hazards [7284].
(d) value: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. It focuses on the security researcher's ability to gain control of the battery microprocessor and potentially manipulate the battery's behavior, such as convincing the charger that the battery is discharged when it is actually full [7284].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. It primarily discusses the security implications of gaining control of the battery microprocessor and the potential risks associated with such control [7284].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident described in the article can be categorized as a security vulnerability exploit. The incident highlights the potential risks of manipulating the battery microprocessor to compromise battery safety and potentially impact the security of the laptop by allowing malware to control the system through the battery [7284]. |