| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
Symantec experienced a software failure incident related to the theft of its product's source code, including PCAnywhere, in 2006. This incident involved hackers gaining access to Symantec's network and stealing the source code for various products, including PCAnywhere. The recent incident in 2012 involved the release of security patches for PCAnywhere versions 12.0, 12.1, and 12.5 to address vulnerabilities and secure the software [9950].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
There is no information in the provided article about the software failure incident happening again at multiple organizations. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be attributed to the theft of Symantec's product source code, which occurred in 2006 when hackers infiltrated Symantec's network and stole the source code for various products, including PCAnywhere [9950].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the need for customers to apply the latest security patches to PCAnywhere to safeguard their computers against cyber attacks. Symantec advised users to disable the software initially to prevent potential security breaches until patches were released to address vulnerabilities [9950]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the theft of Symantec's product source code, including PCAnywhere, was due to a hack originating from within the system. Symantec admitted that hackers had infiltrated their network in 2006 and stole the source code for various products, including PCAnywhere [9950]. This internal security breach led to the vulnerability of PCAnywhere and necessitated the release of security patches to address the issue. |
| 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 incident involved the theft of the product's source code, which was attributed to hackers who managed to breach Symantec's network in 2006. This non-human action led to the exposure of source code for several products, including PCAnywhere, prompting Symantec to release security patches to address the vulnerabilities [9950].
(b) Human actions also played a role in this software failure incident. Symantec initially blamed the source-code theft on a third-party server, trying to shift the responsibility away from internal security breaches. Additionally, the need for customers to apply security patches and follow best practices highlights the importance of human actions in mitigating the risks associated with the software vulnerability [9950]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The incident involved the theft of the product's source code, indicating a security breach that could be attributed to hardware vulnerabilities [9950].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The failure was primarily due to vulnerabilities in the software itself, leading to the need for multiple security patches to address the issues [9950]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the theft of Symantec's product source code, including PCAnywhere, was malicious in nature. Hackers infiltrated Symantec's network in 2006 and stole the source code for various products, leading to vulnerabilities in PCAnywhere and other software. Symantec had to release multiple security patches to address the risks posed by the stolen source code [9950]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the theft of Symantec's product source code and subsequent vulnerabilities in PCAnywhere can be attributed to poor decisions made by the company. Symantec initially blamed the incident on a third-party server and limited the theft to older enterprise products. However, it was later revealed that the source code for several different products, including PCAnywhere, was actually stolen by hackers who had breached Symantec's network in 2006. This delayed response and misattribution of the source code theft indicate poor decisions made by Symantec in handling the security breach and communicating the extent of the incident to customers [9950]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as Symantec initially blamed the source-code theft incident on a third-party server and limited it to two older enterprise products. However, it was later revealed that the source code for several different products, including PCAnywhere, was actually stolen due to a hack into Symantec's own network in 2006. This indicates a failure in maintaining the security of their network and protecting sensitive source code, showcasing a lack of professional competence in ensuring robust cybersecurity measures [9950].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is seen in the article when Symantec admitted that someone had hacked into their network in 2006 and grabbed the source code for various products, including PCAnywhere. This unauthorized access and theft of source code can be considered an accidental event that led to the exposure of vulnerabilities in the software, rather than a deliberate action by the company [9950]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was temporary. The incident was related to the theft of Symantec's product source code, leading to vulnerabilities in PCAnywhere. Symantec responded by advising customers to disable the software initially to guard against cyber attacks. However, they released a series of patches aimed at cleaning up the vulnerabilities, with the latest patch for PCAnywhere versions 12.0 and 12.1 being rolled out on 27 January. Symantec also advised users to apply all relevant patches as they come out and follow best security practices. The incident was a result of specific circumstances, such as the source code theft, and the company took steps to address the vulnerabilities and provide security patches to mitigate the risks ([9950]). |
| Behaviour |
byzantine, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident related to the theft of Symantec's source code led to vulnerabilities in PCAnywhere, prompting Symantec to release security patches to address the issue and prevent cyber attacks [9950].
(b) omission: The incident involved the theft of source code, which could potentially lead to the omission of certain security measures or functionalities within the affected software products [9950].
(c) timing: Symantec initially blamed the source code theft incident on a third-party server and later admitted that the hack actually occurred in 2006, indicating a delay in acknowledging the timing of the security breach [9950].
(d) value: The software failure incident resulted in the theft of source code for various Symantec products, potentially compromising the integrity and security of those products [9950].
(e) byzantine: The incident involved hackers gaining unauthorized access to Symantec's network and stealing source code, leading to inconsistent responses and interactions within the affected software products [9950].
(f) other: The software failure incident also involved the need for customers to apply security patches promptly to safeguard their systems, indicating a proactive response to the security breach [9950]. |