| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to vulnerabilities in the Niagara Framework by Tridium has happened again within the same organization. Tridium's Niagara Framework was found to have vulnerabilities that could enable hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords, as discovered by security researchers Billy Rios and Terry McCorkle. Tridium issued a confidential security bulletin to warn customers about these vulnerabilities and recommended measures to mitigate them. Tridium is working on fixes for the identified issues and is enhancing security training for customers to address the vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by Tridium's Niagara Framework despite efforts to improve security ([13327]).
(b) The software failure incident related to vulnerabilities in the Niagara Framework by Tridium has also affected multiple organizations beyond Tridium. The vulnerabilities in the Niagara Framework have put at risk hundreds of thousands of installations on networks, including Defense Department installations and Fortune 500 firms. These customers, who have unknowingly been exposed to security risks, are urged to take measures to protect against intrusions, such as placing Niagara behind more secure virtual private networks. The incident underscores the broader implications of software vulnerabilities in commercial control systems connected to the Internet ([13327]). |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the case of Tridium's Niagara Framework. The article highlights that the vulnerabilities in the Niagara software were discovered by security researchers who found gaps that would enable hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords [13327]. These vulnerabilities were a result of flaws in the design and development of the software, allowing for potential security breaches.
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the misuse or misconfiguration of the Niagara Framework by users. Tridium officials mentioned that some Niagara Framework users misconfigured their systems, while others did not take secure measures such as using a hard-to-hack virtual private network [13327]. This indicates that operational factors, such as misconfigurations and lack of secure practices by users, contributed to the software vulnerabilities and potential security risks. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Tridium's Niagara Framework can be categorized as within_system. The vulnerability that allowed hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords was a result of flaws within the software itself. Security researchers discovered gaps in the Niagara framework that enabled this exploit, showcasing how even small missteps in writing software or configuring systems can lead to major security vulnerabilities [13327]. Additionally, Tridium acknowledged that the vulnerability was due to an employee incorrectly setting up a demo server and some users misconfiguring their systems, indicating internal factors contributing to the software failure incident. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to vulnerabilities in the Niagara Framework software developed by Tridium. These vulnerabilities were discovered by security researchers Billy Rios and Terry McCorkle, who found gaps in the software that would allow hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords without human participation [13327].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
On the other hand, the software failure incident also had elements of human actions contributing to the failure. Tridium acknowledged that the vulnerability in their software was partly due to an employee who set up a demo incorrectly, leading to the exposure of sensitive information. Additionally, some Niagara Framework users misconfigured their systems or failed to implement secure measures, such as using virtual private networks, which could have prevented the security breach [13327]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The article does not mention any specific software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware. Therefore, there is no information available in the provided article related to a software failure incident caused by hardware issues.
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The software failure incident discussed in the article is related to vulnerabilities in the Niagara Framework software developed by Tridium. Security researchers discovered gaps in the software that would enable hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords, posing a significant security risk [13327].
- Tridium's Niagara Framework, consisting of 4 million lines of software code, was found to have vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers, leading to potential security breaches in networks connected to the Internet through Niagara [13327].
- The software failure incident was attributed to misconfigurations in the software, including the incorrect setup of a demo vulnerability and misconfigurations by some users of the Niagara Framework, highlighting the importance of proper software configuration and security measures [13327]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles is malicious in nature. Security researchers discovered vulnerabilities in the Niagara Framework software developed by Tridium that could enable hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords, potentially leading to unauthorized access to various systems ([13327]). The vulnerabilities were identified as part of efforts by security researchers to expose flaws in the system and improve security ([13327]). The exploit used by the researchers, known as a directory traversal attack, allowed for the extraction of sensitive information from the system ([13327]).
(b) The software failure incident is non-malicious in the sense that the vulnerabilities were not intentionally introduced by the developers of the software. Tridium, the company behind the Niagara Framework, was not aware of the vulnerabilities until they were brought to their attention by security researchers and a customer audit ([13327]). The company is taking steps to address the vulnerabilities and improve the security of the framework, indicating a non-malicious intent to enhance the system's security ([13327]). |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident was due to poor decisions made by the company Tridium. The software vulnerability in the Niagara Framework was discovered by security researchers Billy Rios and Terry McCorkle, who found gaps that would enable hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords [13327]. Tridium had been aware of these vulnerabilities for almost a year, as a customer managing Pentagon facilities using the software discovered issues in an audit. Despite knowing about the vulnerabilities, Tridium had not taken sufficient action to address them until the security researchers brought it to light. This delay in addressing the security flaws can be attributed to poor decisions made by the company in handling the security of their software. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the case of Tridium's Niagara Framework. The article highlights how the company's software, which controls millions of devices worldwide, was found to have vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers. Security researchers discovered gaps in the software that allowed hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords, potentially compromising the security of various systems [13327].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is demonstrated by the unintentional introduction of vulnerabilities in the Niagara Framework. Tridium officials attributed the vulnerability in a demo version of the software to an employee who set it up incorrectly. Additionally, some users misconfigured their systems, while others failed to implement secure measures like using virtual private networks, leaving the systems exposed to potential attacks [13327]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to the vulnerabilities in Tridium's Niagara Framework can be considered as a temporary failure. This is because the vulnerabilities were discovered by security researchers Billy Rios and Terry McCorkle, who reported them to cybersecurity officials at the Department of Homeland Security [13327]. Tridium then issued a confidential security bulletin to warn customers about the vulnerabilities and described ways to mitigate them [13327]. Tridium acknowledged the vulnerabilities and is actively working on fixes to address the security issues [13327]. This indicates that the failure was due to specific circumstances (vulnerabilities in the software) and not a permanent failure inherent to the software itself. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the articles does not specifically mention a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions.
(b) omission: The software failure incident can be related to omission as it discusses vulnerabilities in the Tridium's Niagara Framework that could allow hackers to download and decrypt user names and passwords, potentially leading to the omission of performing its intended function of securely managing devices and machines connected to the Internet [13327].
(c) timing: The software failure incident does not relate to timing issues where the system performs its intended functions but at incorrect times.
(d) value: The software failure incident can be related to a failure in value as it discusses the vulnerability in the Niagara Framework that could lead to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly by allowing unauthorized access to user credentials [13327].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit behaviors of a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The other behavior exhibited in this software failure incident is a security vulnerability that could potentially compromise the confidentiality and integrity of user credentials and data managed by the Tridium's Niagara Framework [13327]. |