| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the malware named 'Funtenna' has not been explicitly mentioned to have happened again within the same organization or with its products and services.
(b) The article mentions that the malware 'Funtenna' exploits radio frequencies to turn office equipment into bugging devices. It is described as being able to operate with almost all modern computer systems and embedded devices, making it a potential threat to multiple organizations or their products and services [45999]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the development of the malware named 'Funtenna' as reported in Article 45999. The malware exploits radio frequencies and common hardware components found in embedded devices to turn office equipment into bugging devices. It manipulates the hardware to transmit signals that send data to hackers, bypassing conventional network security measures. The malware was designed to be hard to detect, as it operates by using the devices themselves as transmitters, thus evading traditional security protocols. This design flaw allowed the malware to be delivered through a printer to a phone connected to the same network, enabling the phone to transmit conversations it could hear using radio waves to a nearby computer.
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is also evident in the development of 'Funtenna' malware described in Article 45999. The malware was designed to exploit the operation of devices by manipulating their hardware components to vibrate at specific frequencies, transmitting data to hackers via radio waves. This operation flaw allowed the malware to be delivered to an office phone through a printer connected to the same network, enabling the phone to transmit conversations it could hear to a nearby computer. The operation of the malware bypassed traditional network security measures, highlighting a vulnerability in the system's operational procedures. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident described in the article is within the system. The malware named 'Funtenna' exploits radio frequencies and hardware components within devices to turn them into bugging devices. The malware is uploaded to the devices, allowing hackers to manipulate the hardware to transmit signals that send data to the hackers. This manipulation of the hardware components within the devices bypasses conventional network security measures, making it a failure originating from within the system itself [45999].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident is also influenced by factors outside the system. The malware 'Funtenna' uses radio frequency waves to turn everyday devices like phones and printers into listening devices. By exploiting radio frequencies and hardware components that are commonly found in embedded devices, the malware can transmit data to hackers without directly accessing the machines. This external manipulation of radio frequencies and hardware components from outside the system contributes to the software failure incident [45999]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to non-human actions. The incident involves a new type of malware named 'Funtenna' that exploits radio frequencies and circuits found on most devices to turn them into listening devices without hackers physically accessing the machines. The malware uses common hardware components present in embedded devices to vibrate prongs on input/output circuits, transmitting data through radio waves. This technique bypasses conventional network security measures, making it challenging to detect. The incident demonstrates how software can be used to manipulate devices and compromise security without direct human intervention [45999].
(b) The software failure incident in the article is not directly related to failure due to human actions. However, it does involve the actions of hackers who exploit vulnerabilities in devices using the 'Funtenna' malware. The malware is designed to manipulate hardware components and transmit data to hackers using radio frequencies. While the incident does not involve direct human errors or mistakes, it does highlight the potential consequences of malicious actions by individuals seeking to compromise security systems [45999]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to hardware. The malware named 'Funtenna' exploits radio frequencies and uses circuits found on most devices to turn them into bugging devices. By uploading the malware to a device, the hackers can vibrate the prongs on general-purpose input/output circuits, found on most embedded devices, at a frequency of their choice. These vibrations can be picked up by a radio antenna, turning the devices into transmitters and bypassing conventional network security measures [45999].
(b) The software failure incident in the article is also related to software. The malware 'Funtenna' is a software that is uploaded to devices to manipulate the hardware and turn them into bugging devices. The software allows hackers to control the hardware remotely and transmit data to the hacker using radio waves. This incident demonstrates how software can be used to exploit vulnerabilities in hardware and bypass traditional security measures [45999]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious in nature. The incident involves the use of malware named 'Funtenna' by hackers to exploit radio frequencies and turn office equipment into bugging devices. The malware is designed to covertly transmit data to the hackers without being detected by conventional network security measures. The objective of the malware is to eavesdrop on conversations and gather sensitive information from devices without the users' knowledge or consent. This malicious intent is evident in the actions of the hackers who use the malware to spy on individuals and organizations [45999]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident was not due to poor decisions but rather intentional malicious actions by hackers. The malware named 'Funtenna' was designed to exploit radio frequencies and turn office equipment into bugging devices. The lead researcher, Ang Cui from Red Balloon Security, demonstrated how the malware could be delivered through a printer to infect devices like phones and printers, turning them into listening devices without the need for physical access. This incident was a deliberate act of cyber espionage rather than a result of poor decisions [45999]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as it describes how the malware named 'Funtenna' was developed and utilized by hackers to exploit radio frequencies and turn office equipment into bugging devices. The lead researcher, Ang Cui from Red Balloon Security, designed this malware to demonstrate vulnerabilities in common hardware components found in embedded devices [45999].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also present in the article. It explains how the malware 'Funtenna' could be delivered to devices such as phones through printers connected to the same network. This delivery method was accidental in nature, as the malware was embedded in a document (CV) sent to the printer, which then installed the malware on the phone without any direct access or physical tampering by the hackers [45999]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
The software failure incident described in the article is more aligned with a permanent failure. The malware named 'Funtenna' exploits radio frequencies and hardware components in devices to turn them into bugging devices, allowing hackers to remotely listen in on conversations without being detected [45999]. This type of failure is not temporary but rather a persistent threat introduced by the malware, which can continue to operate as long as the infected devices remain in use. |
| Behaviour |
value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article does not involve a crash where the system loses state and stops performing its intended functions. Instead, the malware named 'Funtenna' exploits radio frequencies to turn office equipment into bugging devices without crashing the system [45999].
(b) omission: The incident does not involve the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). The malware actively manipulates the hardware to transmit data to the hacker, indicating intentional action rather than omission [45999].
(c) timing: The failure is not related to the system performing its intended functions too late or too early. The malware operates by actively vibrating the prongs on embedded devices to transmit data, indicating a deliberate and timely action [45999].
(d) value: The software failure incident does involve the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. The malware manipulates the hardware to transmit data to the hacker, which is not the intended function of the devices [45999].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not involve the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The malware operates in a consistent manner to turn devices into bugging devices using radio frequencies and manipulated hardware [45999].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident can be categorized as unauthorized and malicious manipulation of hardware and radio frequencies to turn everyday devices into listening devices without the knowledge or consent of the users. This behavior falls under the category of unauthorized access and surveillance, which is not explicitly covered in options (a) to (e) [45999]. |