Incident: Internet Explorer Zero-Day Vulnerability Exploited by Hackers.

Published Date: 2012-09-18

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident happened in April 2014. [26008, 26082]
System 1. Internet Explorer (versions affected: IE6 to IE11) [26008, 26082] 2. Windows operating systems (XP, Vista, 7, 8) [26008, 26082] 3. Adobe Flash plugin [26008, 26082]
Responsible Organization 1. Hackers exploited a vulnerability in Internet Explorer to cause the software failure incident [26008, 26082]. 2. The security flaw in Internet Explorer allowed attackers to install malware on computers without permission, leading to the incident [14528].
Impacted Organization 1. Users of Internet Explorer, especially those using versions from IE6 to IE11, were impacted by the software failure incident as it allowed hackers to take control of their computers and potentially steal personal information [26008, 26082]. 2. Organizations and individuals using Windows XP were particularly affected as Microsoft no longer provided security updates for that operating system, leaving them vulnerable to the exploit [26008]. 3. Financial and defense organizations in the US were targeted by hackers using the exploit in Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11 [26082]. 4. Businesses and individuals relying on software specifically designed to run on Internet Explorer may have faced challenges in avoiding the browser despite the security vulnerability [14528].
Software Causes 1. The software cause of the failure incident was a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer that allowed attackers to install malware on computers without the users' permission [26008, 26082, 14528]. 2. The vulnerability affected various versions of Internet Explorer, including IE 6 to IE 11, running on different Windows operating systems such as XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 [26008, 26082, 14528]. 3. The exploit was specifically related to a flaw in Internet Explorer's Flash plug-in, which was used by hackers to launch attacks and gain control of computers [26008, 26082]. 4. Microsoft recommended using mitigation actions like the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) or switching to alternative browsers like Google Chrome to protect against the vulnerability [26008, 26082, 14528].
Non-software Causes 1. Lack of support for Windows XP by Microsoft with security updates [26008, 26082] 2. Exploitation of a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer [26008, 26082] 3. Presence of a known Flash-based exploit technique used in the attack [26082] 4. Difficulty in identifying zero-day vulnerabilities due to the need for highly skilled software engineers or hackers [14528] 5. Existence of a thriving underground business where companies discover and sell zero-day hacks [14528]
Impacts 1. The software failure incident involving a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer allowed hackers to take remote control of computers, potentially leading to the theft of personal data, tracking online behavior, and gaining complete control of the affected machines [26008, 26082]. 2. The incident prompted the US and UK governments to issue advisories recommending users to stop using Internet Explorer until a fix was available, highlighting the severity of the vulnerability [26082]. 3. Microsoft urged Windows users to install free security software (Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit, EMET) as an interim measure to protect PCs from the exploit while working on a permanent update to strengthen Internet Explorer [14528]. 4. Security experts expressed concerns about the difficulty in protecting against zero-day vulnerabilities, emphasizing the value of such flaws to commercial and government hackers and the challenges in defending against evolving attacks [14528]. 5. The incident raised awareness about the importance of timely software updates and security measures to mitigate the risks posed by software vulnerabilities, especially in widely used applications like Internet Explorer [26008, 26082, 14528].
Preventions 1. Regularly updating software with security patches and fixes could have prevented the software failure incident. Microsoft urged users to install updates and security software to protect against the vulnerability in Internet Explorer [26008, 26082, 14528]. 2. Disabling specific features or plugins that are vulnerable to attacks, such as the Flash plugin in Internet Explorer, could have mitigated the risk of exploitation [26008, 26082]. 3. Using alternative browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari could have prevented the incident as the vulnerability was specific to Internet Explorer [26008, 26082]. 4. Employing security tools like Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) could have provided additional protection against the exploit [26082, 14528]. 5. Implementing security best practices and staying informed about potential threats could have helped organizations and individuals avoid falling victim to the attack [26008, 26082, 14528].
Fixes 1. Disabling the plugin of Adobe in Internet Explorer could fix the software failure incident [26008, 26008]. 2. Using Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) security app with Internet Explorer could help mitigate the risk [26082, 26082]. 3. Switching to another browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari could be a solution to avoid the vulnerability in Internet Explorer [26008, 26008, 26082, 26082]. 4. Installing free security software like the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) provided by Microsoft could protect PCs from the vulnerability in Internet Explorer [14528, 14528].
References 1. FireEye security firm [26008, 26082] 2. Microsoft [26008, 26082, 14528] 3. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) [26082] 4. US Department of Homeland Security [26082] 5. NetMarketShare [26008, 26082] 6. StatCounter [14528] 7. Rapid7 security company [14528] 8. Symantec [14528] 9. Eric Romang, a researcher [14528] 10. Liam O Murchu, a research manager at Symantec [14528] 11. Tod Beardsley, an engineering manager at Rapid7 [14528] 12. Marc Maiffret, chief technology officer of BeyondTrust [14528] 13. Dave Marcus, director of advanced research and threat intelligence with Intel's McAfee security division [14528]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident related to the Internet Explorer vulnerability has happened again at Microsoft. This incident involved a zero-day exploit in Internet Explorer that allowed attackers to install malware on computers running various versions of Windows and Internet Explorer [26008, 26082, 14528]. (b) The incident has also affected multiple organizations and users who rely on Internet Explorer as their default browser. The vulnerability impacted a significant portion of desktop browsers, affecting not only individual users but also organizations such as financial and defense organizations in the US [26008, 26082, 14528].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident in the articles is primarily related to the design phase. The incident was caused by a vulnerability in Internet Explorer that allowed hackers to exploit a flaw in the browser, leading to the installation of malware on users' computers [26008, 26082, 14528]. This vulnerability was a result of a design flaw in Internet Explorer that hackers were able to exploit to take control of computers remotely. (b) Additionally, the software failure incident also has elements related to the operation phase. Users who were using Internet Explorer and clicked on malicious links unknowingly allowed hackers to take control of their computers [26008, 26082, 14528]. This aspect of the incident involves the operation or misuse of the system by users, which contributed to the success of the attack.
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system, outside_system (a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is primarily within_system. The incident involves a vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser that allows hackers to take control of computers by exploiting a flaw within the browser itself. The vulnerability affects various versions of Internet Explorer, from IE6 to IE11, and can be used to install malware on a user's computer without their permission [26008, 26082, 14528]. (b) Additionally, the incident highlights the impact on users who are still using Windows XP, as Microsoft no longer provides security updates for that operating system. This external factor of lack of support for Windows XP contributes to the severity of the software failure incident [26008, 26082, 14528].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions: - The software failure incident reported in the articles is due to a zero-day exploit in Internet Explorer that allows attackers to install malware on computers without the users' permission [26008, 26082, 14528]. - The exploit is being used with a known Flash-based technique to attack organizations, and it affects various versions of Internet Explorer, including IE 6 to IE 11 [26082]. - The vulnerability was discovered by security researchers and hackers exploited the flaw to take remote control of computers [14528]. - Microsoft issued a security advisory and recommended mitigation actions while working on rolling out an update to address the vulnerability [26082, 14528]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions: - The incident involves hackers creating malicious websites to exploit the vulnerability in Internet Explorer, leading to the installation of malware on users' computers [26008, 26082]. - The hackers take advantage of the zero-day vulnerability to steal personal data, track online behavior, or gain control of the computer [26082]. - Security experts highlighted the concern over zero-day flaws being valuable to commercial and government hackers, leading to a thriving underground business in trading zero-day hacks [14528]. - Recommendations were made for users to avoid using Internet Explorer and switch to alternative browsers or implement security measures to protect against the exploit [26082, 14528].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The articles report a software failure incident that originated in software rather than hardware. The incident was related to a zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser that allowed hackers to exploit a flaw in the browser to install malware on users' computers without their permission [26008, 26082, 14528]. This vulnerability affected various versions of Internet Explorer running on different Windows operating systems, highlighting a software-related issue rather than a hardware-related one.
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident described in the articles is malicious in nature. Hackers exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer to install malware on users' computers without their permission, allowing them to take control of the machines, steal personal data, and track online behavior [26008, 26082, 14528]. The attack was described as a new type of attack that allowed hackers to gain complete control of the victim's computer, potentially leading to data theft and unauthorized access to sensitive information [26008]. The incident prompted warnings from security experts and government agencies to stop using Internet Explorer until a fix was available, highlighting the severity and malicious intent behind the software vulnerability [26008, 26082, 14528]. The attack targeted various organizations, including financial and defense institutions, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the exploit to compromise systems and gain unauthorized access [26082]. Overall, the software failure incident was a result of malicious actions by hackers seeking to exploit a vulnerability in Internet Explorer for their gain, demonstrating a clear intent to harm the affected systems and users.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) unknown (a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions: - The software failure incident related to the Internet Explorer vulnerability was not due to poor decisions but rather a zero-day exploit that allowed attackers to install malware on computers [26008, 26082]. - Microsoft was aware of targeted attacks potentially affecting some versions of Internet Explorer and took interim measures to offer free security software while working on rolling out an update to address the vulnerability [14528]. (b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental_decisions: - The software failure incident was not due to accidental decisions but rather the exploitation of a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer that allowed attackers to take remote control of computers [26008, 26082]. - The vulnerability was discovered when a researcher's PC was infected by malicious software exploiting a previously unknown bug in IE, highlighting the deliberate nature of the attack rather than accidental decisions [14528].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence (a) The software failure incident occurring due to development incompetence: - The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer that allowed hackers to take remote control of computers [26008, 26082, 14528]. - The vulnerability was exploited by hackers to install malware on computers without the users' permission, potentially leading to data theft and unauthorized access to the machines [26008, 26082, 14528]. - Microsoft had to urgently address the flaw and provide mitigation actions, such as offering free security software like the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) while working on a permanent update [26082, 14528]. - The incident highlighted the risks associated with zero-day vulnerabilities and the challenges in identifying and patching such flaws, emphasizing the importance of professional competence in software development to prevent such incidents [14528]. (b) The software failure incident occurring accidentally: - The incident was not accidental but rather a result of a zero-day vulnerability that was actively exploited by hackers to carry out targeted attacks on computers running Internet Explorer [26008, 26082, 14528]. - The discovery of the flaw was not accidental either, as it required skilled researchers to identify the vulnerability and understand how it was being exploited by malicious actors [14528]. - Efforts by security experts and software companies to protect against the exploit and offer mitigation tools indicate a deliberate response to a known security issue rather than an accidental occurrence [26082, 14528].
Duration permanent, temporary (a) The articles describe a software failure incident that can be considered as a permanent failure. The incident involves a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer that allows attackers to install malware on computers without the users' permission. This vulnerability affects all major versions of Internet Explorer from the past decade, including IE6 to IE11 [Article 26008, Article 26082]. The severity of the vulnerability and the potential for attackers to take complete control of the affected machines indicate a significant and long-lasting impact on the security of the software. (b) The software failure incident can also be seen as a temporary failure in the sense that it was caused by specific circumstances, such as the zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer. The incident prompted recommendations from security experts to either disable Internet Explorer's Flash plug-in or use Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) as a temporary measure to mitigate the risk [Article 26082]. Additionally, Microsoft offered free security software (EMET) on its website while working on rolling out an update to address the vulnerability [Article 14528]. These temporary measures suggest that the failure was due to specific contributing factors that could be addressed through immediate actions.
Behaviour crash, omission, other (a) crash: - The articles describe a software failure incident related to a vulnerability in Internet Explorer that could lead to a hacker taking control of a computer. This vulnerability could result in a crash of the system, as the hacker gains complete control of the machine, potentially leading to a loss of functionality or system instability [26008, 26082]. (b) omission: - The software failure incident involves a zero-day exploit in Internet Explorer that allows attackers to install malware on computers without the user's permission. This omission of performing its intended functions securely exposes users to the risk of having their personal data stolen or their computers controlled remotely [26082, 14528]. (c) timing: - The incident does not directly relate to a timing failure where the system performs its intended functions but at the wrong time. (d) value: - The software failure incident is not specifically related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. (e) byzantine: - The incident does not involve a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. (f) other: - The other behavior observed in this software failure incident is a security vulnerability that allows hackers to exploit Internet Explorer, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, and control of the affected systems [26008, 26082, 14528].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence harm, property, non-human, theoretical_consequence, other (a) death: There is no mention of people losing their lives due to the software failure incident in the provided articles. (b) harm: The software failure incident led to potential harm as hackers could take complete control of individuals' computers, potentially leading to data theft and unauthorized access to personal information [26008, 26082]. (c) basic: There is no mention of people's access to food or shelter being impacted due to the software failure incident. (d) property: People's material goods, money, or data were impacted due to the software failure incident as hackers could potentially steal personal data and gain control of computers [26008, 26082]. (e) delay: There is no mention of people having to postpone an activity due to the software failure incident. (f) non-human: Non-human entities such as computers, systems, and browsers were impacted due to the software failure incident, particularly affecting Internet Explorer users [26008, 26082]. (g) no_consequence: There were observed consequences of the software failure incident, particularly related to potential security breaches and unauthorized access to computers [26008, 26082]. (h) theoretical_consequence: The articles discuss potential consequences of the software failure incident, such as the risk of data theft, unauthorized access, and the need for security updates to mitigate the vulnerability [26008, 26082]. (i) other: The software failure incident could lead to a loss of privacy, compromised sensitive information, and potential financial losses for individuals and organizations [26008, 26082].
Domain information, finance (a) The software failure incident related to the production and distribution of information. The incident involved a vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser that allowed hackers to take control of users' computers when visiting malicious websites, potentially leading to data theft and unauthorized access [Article 26008, Article 26082]. (h) The incident also impacted the finance industry as financial and defense organizations in the US were targeted using the exploit in Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11 [Article 26082]. (m) The incident is not directly related to any other industry mentioned in the options.

Sources

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