| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Adobe data breach indicates that a similar incident had happened before within the same organization. The article mentions that the leak is just the latest reminder of the risks of re-using passwords, emphasizing the importance of using unique passwords and not re-using them across multiple websites. This suggests that Adobe had faced a similar issue of data breach or security vulnerability in the past, leading to the need for users to change their passwords and adopt better password practices [Article 23061].
(b) The article does not provide specific information about similar incidents happening at other organizations or with their products and services. Therefore, it is unknown if similar incidents have occurred at multiple organizations based on the provided article. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the Adobe data breach incident. The incident occurred due to serious errors made by Adobe when storing the data. Firstly, Adobe encrypted all the passwords with the same key, which is a design flaw in the encryption process. Secondly, the encryption method used, ECB mode, rendered the encrypted data insecure by making every identical password look the same when encrypted. This flaw in the design of the encryption process allowed researchers to identify common passwords easily, compromising the security of nearly 1.9 million users [Article 23061].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is highlighted by the fact that the hackers gained access to Adobe's systems and stole product source code as well as the database. This indicates a failure in the operation or security measures of Adobe's systems, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data. Additionally, the incident emphasizes the risk of password reuse by users, which can lead to significant consequences if a compromised password is used across multiple websites. This aspect of the incident points to operational weaknesses in password management and security practices [Article 23061]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident involving Adobe's loss of customer data was primarily due to contributing factors that originated from within the system. Adobe made serious errors when storing the data, including encrypting all passwords with the same key and using an encryption method (ECB mode) that rendered the encrypted data insecure. These internal system flaws allowed hackers to steal the data, compromising nearly 150 million people's information [23061]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurred due to non-human actions, specifically an encryption error made by Adobe. The incident involved the encryption of all passwords with the same key using a method called ECB mode, which rendered the encrypted data insecure. This method led to every identical password looking the same when encrypted, allowing researchers to potentially guess passwords based on hints that were not encrypted. Additionally, the encryption error made it possible for attackers to conduct "brute force" attacks to figure out the key used for encryption, potentially compromising a colossal store of emails and passwords [Article 23061].
(b) The software failure incident also involved human actions, as Adobe made serious errors when storing the data. These errors included encrypting all passwords with the same key and using an encryption method that rendered the data insecure. Furthermore, the incident highlighted the risks of reusing passwords, emphasizing the importance of choosing unique and strong passwords to mitigate the impact of potential data breaches [Article 23061]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The article does not mention any hardware-related contributing factors that led to the software failure incident. Therefore, it is unknown if hardware played a role in this incident.
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to software-related factors. Adobe made serious errors in storing the data, including encrypting all passwords with the same key and using an encryption method (ECB mode) that rendered the encrypted data insecure. These software-related issues allowed the data to be stolen and compromised the security of user information [23061]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Adobe data breach can be categorized as malicious. The incident involved a loss of customer data affecting nearly 150 million people due to a hack where attackers gained access to Adobe's systems and stole product source code as well as the database [Article 23061]. The attackers were able to compromise the encrypted passwords by exploiting errors in Adobe's encryption methods, leading to the exposure of sensitive information. This breach was not accidental but a deliberate act by hackers to steal valuable data for potential misuse. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Adobe data breach can be attributed to poor decisions made by Adobe in handling customer data security. The incident involved serious errors in how Adobe stored and encrypted the data, leading to the exposure of nearly 150 million people's information. Adobe encrypted all passwords with the same key and used an insecure encryption method (ECB mode) that allowed researchers to identify identical passwords easily. Additionally, Adobe failed to encrypt password hints, making it easier for attackers to guess passwords. The article highlights that the hackers not only gained access to customer data but also stole product source code and potentially the keys used for encryption, increasing the risk for users who reused passwords on other sites. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks of password reuse and the importance of using unique, strong passwords to enhance security [23061]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the Adobe data breach incident. The incident occurred due to serious errors made by Adobe when storing the data. Firstly, Adobe encrypted all the passwords with the same key, which is a fundamental security flaw. Secondly, the encryption method used, ECB mode, rendered the encrypted data insecure as it made every identical password look the same when encrypted. This flaw allowed researchers to identify users with the same password based on the encrypted data, leading to a compromise of 1.9 million accounts. Additionally, Adobe failed to encrypt password hints, making it easier for attackers to guess passwords. These errors in encryption and data storage demonstrate a lack of professional competence in handling sensitive user data [23061].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is seen in the unintentional leak of customer data by Adobe. The incident resulted in the exposure of a 10GB database containing sensitive information of nearly 150 million users. The leak was not intentional but occurred due to vulnerabilities in Adobe's systems that allowed hackers to gain unauthorized access. The use of a flawed encryption method and the storage of passwords with the same key were accidental mistakes that contributed to the data breach. While the hackers exploited these vulnerabilities, it was not Adobe's intention to expose user data, indicating accidental factors leading to the software failure incident [23061]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
(a) The software failure incident in the Adobe data breach can be considered permanent. The incident resulted in a loss of customer data affecting nearly 150 million people due to serious errors in how Adobe stored and encrypted the data. The encryption errors made by Adobe, such as using the same key for all passwords and employing an insecure encryption method (ECB mode), allowed attackers to easily access and compromise the data. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of users changing their passwords and never reusing them to mitigate the risks associated with the breach. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of password reuse and highlights the long-term consequences that can arise from such security breaches [23061]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident involving Adobe resulted in a crash as the system lost customer data affecting nearly 150 million people [23061].
(b) omission: The incident also involved an omission where Adobe made serious errors in storing the data, such as encrypting all passwords with the same key and using an encryption method that rendered the data insecure [23061].
(c) timing: There is no specific mention of a timing-related failure in the provided article.
(d) value: The software failure incident can be categorized under the value failure as Adobe's encryption errors led to the compromise of user passwords, making the encrypted data insecure and vulnerable to attacks [23061].
(e) byzantine: The article does not describe the software failure incident as exhibiting byzantine behavior.
(f) other: The other behavior exhibited in this software failure incident is the potential risk of password reuse by users, which could lead to significant consequences if the compromised password is used across multiple websites [23061]. |