| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Flashback Trojan has happened again at Apple. The Flashback Trojan, a form of malware designed to steal personal information from Mac users, infected an estimated 600,000 Macs in 2012 [11636]. Apple had to update its XProtect security tool multiple times to protect against different variants of the Flashback Trojan. Additionally, Apple released a removal tool as part of a Java update to address the issue [11636].
(b) The software failure incident related to the Flashback Trojan has also happened at other organizations or with their products and services. The Flashback Trojan targeted Java runtime on OS X, exploiting a vulnerability that Oracle had patched but Apple had not fixed in its own Java version until later [11636]. This incident highlights the importance of keeping software up to date and downloading software only from trusted sources to prevent malware infections. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be attributed to the delay in Apple fixing a Java vulnerability that was exploited by the Flashback Trojan. The article mentions that Oracle patched the vulnerability in February, but Apple did not address it in their own Java version until April [11636].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is linked to users unknowingly installing the Flashback Trojan by mistaking it for a legitimate browser plug-in while visiting malicious websites. This led to the malware gathering personal information and sending it back to remote servers [11636]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the Flashback Trojan was primarily due to contributing factors that originated from within the system. The malware was designed to trick users into installing it by masquerading as legitimate software like Adobe Flash, exploiting vulnerabilities in Java, and installing itself without user interaction or passwords. Additionally, Apple's delay in patching the Java vulnerability allowed the malware to infect a large number of Mac computers [11636].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident also had contributing factors that originated from outside the system. For example, the Flashback Trojan spread by users unknowingly installing the malware while visiting malicious websites. The malware creators took advantage of users' trust in popular software like Adobe Flash and the lack of awareness about the risks associated with downloading software from untrusted sources [11636]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to non-human actions. The Flashback Trojan malware was designed to infect Mac computers by masquerading as legitimate software installers and exploiting vulnerabilities in Java. Users unknowingly installed the malware through their web browsers or other applications without realizing the malicious intent behind the software [11636]. The malware was able to spread rapidly and infect a large number of Mac computers due to its ability to install itself without user interaction and the exploitation of a Java vulnerability that Apple had not patched in a timely manner.
(b) However, human actions also played a role in the software failure incident. Users inadvertently installed the Flashback Trojan by mistaking it for legitimate software, such as Adobe Flash, while visiting malicious websites. Additionally, the delay in Apple's response to patch the Java vulnerability allowed the malware to continue spreading and infecting more computers [11636]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The Flashback Trojan incident reported in the article did not occur due to contributing factors originating in hardware. The incident was primarily caused by malware designed to steal personal information by masquerading as legitimate browser plug-ins and exploiting vulnerabilities in software systems like Java on Mac computers [11636].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The Flashback Trojan incident was a software failure caused by malware designed to steal personal information through web browsers and applications like Skype. The malware exploited vulnerabilities in software systems like Java on Mac computers, leading to the infection of an estimated 600,000 Macs. Apple's delay in fixing the Java vulnerability in its own versions contributed to the widespread infection [11636]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Flashback Trojan is malicious in nature. The Flashback Trojan was designed as a form of malware with the objective of grabbing passwords and other personal information from users through their web browsers and applications such as Skype [11636]. The malware was created to masquerade as legitimate browser plug-ins, tricking users into unknowingly installing the software, which would then gather personal information and send it back to remote servers [11636]. The malware authors exploited vulnerabilities in Java to infect a large number of Mac computers, with the software evolving to target different entry points and install itself without user interaction [11636]. Apple had to release security updates and removal tools to combat the Flashback Trojan, indicating that it was a deliberate and malicious attack on users' systems [11636]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident was poor_decisions. The Flashback Trojan incident on Mac computers was a result of poor decisions made by the malware writers who exploited a vulnerability in Java that Apple had not patched in its own versions of Java. This delayed response from Apple left users vulnerable to the malware, leading to a significant number of infections [11636]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence can be attributed to the delay in Apple fixing a Java vulnerability that was exploited by the Flashback Trojan. The article mentions that Oracle patched the vulnerability in February, but Apple did not address it in their own Java version until April [11636].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors includes users unknowingly installing the Flashback Trojan mistaking it for a legitimate browser plug-in while visiting malicious websites. The malware was designed to look similar to Adobe's Flash installer, and users were prompted to install it on their machines to view web content. Additionally, the malware could install itself without user interaction, further contributing to its accidental spread [11636]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Flashback Trojan can be considered temporary. The incident was caused by specific circumstances such as the design of the malware to exploit vulnerabilities in Java and the delay in Apple's patching of those vulnerabilities. The incident was not permanent as measures were taken to address the issue, such as updating Apple's XProtect security tool, releasing Java updates, and providing removal tools to eliminate the malware from infected systems [11636]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The Flashback Trojan malware incident can be categorized as a crash behavior. The malware caused a crash in the system by installing itself without user interaction, gathering personal information, and sending it back to remote servers. This behavior led to the system losing its state and not performing its intended functions properly [11636].
(b) omission: The Flashback Trojan incident can also be linked to omission behavior. The malware omitted to perform the system's intended functions by disguising itself as legitimate browser plug-ins, tricking users into unknowingly installing it, and then collecting sensitive information without the user's knowledge or consent [11636].
(c) timing: The Flashback Trojan incident does not directly relate to timing behavior. The focus of the incident was more on the installation and functioning of the malware rather than the timing of the system's operations [11636].
(d) value: The Flashback Trojan incident aligns with value behavior. The malware performed its intended functions incorrectly by masquerading as legitimate software, deceiving users, and stealing personal information. This incorrect behavior compromised the security and privacy of the affected systems [11636].
(e) byzantine: The Flashback Trojan incident does not exhibit byzantine behavior. The malware's actions were consistent in their malicious intent and did not involve erratic or inconsistent responses or interactions with the system [11636].
(f) other: The other behavior observed in the Flashback Trojan incident is stealthy behavior. The malware operated stealthily by installing itself without user interaction, evading detection by security tools like XProtect, and continuously evolving to bypass security measures implemented by Apple. This stealthy behavior allowed the malware to persist on infected systems and continue its malicious activities [11636]. |