| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident of a hack affecting Microsoft-owned Minecraft's usernames and passwords is an example of a similar incident happening again within the same organization. The article mentions that Microsoft was previously left red-faced over Christmas when its Xbox One service was infiltrated by hackers, and now it's facing a similar problem with Minecraft [32685].
(b) The incident of a hack affecting Microsoft-owned Minecraft's usernames and passwords could also be seen as a case where a similar incident has happened again with other organizations or their products and services. This is because the security expert mentioned in the article highlighted possibilities such as phishing attacks, malware, or a security breach at Minecraft itself, indicating that such incidents are not unique to Microsoft but can occur across various organizations [32685]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be attributed to potential security vulnerabilities introduced during system development or updates. In the case of the Minecraft hack incident, the security breach that led to the exposure of 1,800 usernames and passwords was likely a result of various factors such as phishing attacks, keylogging malware, or a security breach within the Minecraft system itself [32685].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be linked to the misuse of the system by hackers who infiltrated the Xbox One service and gained unauthorized access to Minecraft accounts. The operation failure in this context refers to the unauthorized access and misuse of user accounts due to the security breach, leading to potential account takeovers, changes in settings, and unauthorized purchases of virtual items [32685]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident involving the hack of Microsoft-owned Minecraft's usernames and passwords was likely a result of contributing factors originating from within the system. The incident involved unauthorized access to user credentials within the Minecraft system, potentially through phishing attacks, malware, or a security breach within the game itself [32685]. Microsoft confirmed that no Mojang.net service was compromised, indicating that the issue was contained within the Minecraft system [32685].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident could also be attributed to contributing factors originating from outside the system. The hackers who infiltrated the Xbox One service and subsequently targeted Minecraft users were external entities exploiting vulnerabilities in the system. The method of obtaining user credentials, such as phishing attacks or malware, suggests external factors at play in the breach [32685]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was due to non-human actions, specifically a hack where hackers infiltrated Microsoft-owned Minecraft's usernames and passwords, leading to potential unauthorized access to accounts and virtual items [32685].
(b) Human actions also played a role in this incident as the security analyst mentioned possibilities such as phishing attacks, keylogging malware, or a security breach at Minecraft itself as potential ways the hackers could have obtained the credentials [32685]. Additionally, Microsoft took immediate action to protect customers by reviewing valid credentials and resetting account access when necessary, indicating human intervention in response to the incident. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The incident reported in the article does not specifically mention any hardware-related issues contributing to the software failure. It primarily focuses on the hack that compromised Minecraft user accounts and passwords, indicating a security breach rather than a hardware failure [32685].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software failure incident in this case is attributed to a security breach that allowed hackers to infiltrate Microsoft-owned Minecraft's usernames and passwords. The incident is described as a hack where criminals could break into accounts, change settings, and buy virtual items. The security expert mentioned possibilities such as phishing attacks, malware, or a security breach as potential causes of the software failure [32685]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Minecraft hack can be categorized as malicious. Hackers infiltrated the Xbox One service and obtained a list of 1,800 Microsoft-owned Minecraft usernames and passwords, which were then published online. This breach allowed criminals to potentially break into accounts, change settings, and make unauthorized purchases [32685]. The security expert mentioned various possibilities for how the hackers obtained the credentials, including phishing attacks, malware, or a security breach at Minecraft itself. The incident involved unauthorized access to user accounts with the potential for harmful actions, indicating a malicious intent behind the software failure. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the hack of Microsoft-owned Minecraft's usernames and passwords can be attributed to poor decisions. The incident involved a breach where a list of 1,800 usernames and passwords were published online, potentially allowing criminals to break into accounts, change settings, and buy virtual items [32685]. The security analyst Graham Cluely mentioned possibilities such as phishing attacks, keylogging malware, or a security breach at Minecraft itself as potential causes of the hack. Additionally, the incident highlighted the importance of implementing industry procedures to reset passwords for affected accounts and protect customers [32685]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article. Therefore, it is unknown if the incident was due to contributing factors introduced due to lack of professional competence by humans or the development organization.
(b) The software failure incident related to an accidental cause is evident in the article. The incident involved hackers infiltrating Microsoft's Xbox One service and obtaining a list of 1,800 Microsoft-owned Minecraft usernames and passwords, which were then published online [32685]. This breach was not intentional and was likely accidental, leading to unauthorized access to user accounts and potential misuse of the compromised credentials. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident reported in Article 32685 was temporary. The incident involved a hack where a list of 1,800 Microsoft-owned Minecraft usernames and passwords were published online, potentially allowing criminals to break into accounts, change settings, and buy virtual items. Microsoft took immediate action to protect customers by resetting passwords for the affected accounts, indicating a response to a specific circumstance rather than a permanent failure [32685]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a crash as the Xbox One service was infiltrated by hackers, leading to a situation where the system was not performing its intended functions due to the security breach [32685].
(b) omission: The incident can also be related to omission as the hackers were able to access a list of 1,800 Microsoft-owned Minecraft usernames and passwords, indicating a failure of the system to protect this sensitive information [32685].
(c) timing: There is no specific mention of a timing-related failure in the articles provided.
(d) value: The incident can be linked to a value failure as the hackers could potentially break into accounts, change settings, and buy virtual items, indicating that the system was performing its intended functions incorrectly by allowing unauthorized access and transactions [32685].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not align with a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The other behavior observed in this software failure incident is a security breach leading to unauthorized access to user accounts and potential misuse of personal information and in-game assets [32685]. |