| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to a security lapse involving a root certificate problem occurred at Dell, similar to the Superfish incident that happened with Lenovo earlier. Both incidents involved pre-installed SSL certificates with vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers [53514].
(b) The articles mention that SSL vulnerabilities have been a concern not only for Dell and Lenovo but also for other companies. For example, Google publicly shamed Symantec over misissued security certificates, and Apple had its own critical SSL failure revealed in the past. This indicates that similar incidents related to SSL vulnerabilities have occurred at multiple organizations [53514]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is related to the design phase of system development. Dell's security lapse was caused by a root certificate problem where a pre-installed SSL certificate with a locally stored private key, called eDellRoot, was included in commercial and consumer Dell PCs through a software update starting in August 15. This design flaw allowed hackers to easily acquire the private key, compromising SSL communication between browsers and servers [53514].
(b) The software failure incident is not directly related to the operation phase or misuse of the system. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
The software failure incident reported in the article [53514] was primarily within_system. The incident was caused by a root certificate problem involving the pre-installed SSL certificate with a locally stored private key on Dell PCs. This vulnerability allowed hackers to easily acquire the private key, compromising SSL communication between browsers and servers. The issue originated from within the system as a result of the software update that introduced the eDellRoot certificate with a weak password, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to non-human actions. Dell's PCs were affected by a root certificate problem where a pre-installed SSL certificate with a locally stored private key, called eDellRoot, was present on the machines. This vulnerability allowed hackers to easily acquire the private key, compromising SSL communication between the users' browsers and servers. The presence of this certificate was not intended for malicious purposes but rather to provide system service tag information for Dell's online support [53514].
(b) However, human actions also played a role in this software failure incident. The decision to include the eDellRoot certificate on the PCs, even with good intentions of improving customer service, led to a serious security lapse. The fact that the password for the private key was easily crackable indicates a human error in the implementation of security measures. Additionally, the need for users to manually patch their systems or wait for a software update highlights the human aspect of addressing the issue after it was discovered [53514]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the article is primarily related to a hardware issue. Dell laptops were affected by a security lapse involving a pre-installed SSL certificate with a locally stored private key called eDellRoot. This hardware-related issue allowed hackers to easily acquire the private key stored on the computer, compromising SSL communication between the browser and servers [53514].
(b) The software failure incident also has a significant software component. The root cause of the vulnerability was a software update that began in August 15, which introduced the eDellRoot SSL certificate with a weak password that was easily crackable. This software update led to the installation of the vulnerable certificate on Dell PCs, highlighting a software-related flaw in the update process [53514]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is non-malicious. Dell's security lapse involving the eDellRoot SSL certificate was not intended to harm the system but rather was a result of a poorly implemented root certificate intended for easier identification of computer models for customer support purposes [53514]. The incident was not a deliberate act to compromise security but rather a misstep in implementing a security measure.
(b) The incident was not a malicious attack but rather a security oversight that could potentially be exploited by malicious actors due to the vulnerability introduced by the eDellRoot SSL certificate [53514]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
accidental_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident was not due to poor decisions but rather accidental decisions. The SSL certificate issue with Dell's pre-installed eDellRoot certificate was not intended to collect personal customer information but rather to provide a system service tag for Dell's online support to identify the computer model quickly [53514]. Dell spokesperson Laura Thomas clarified that the certificate was not malware or adware and was meant to facilitate servicing customers more efficiently. The unintended consequence of this decision was the vulnerability it created, allowing hackers to potentially compromise SSL communication on affected Dell PCs. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the case of Dell's security lapse with the eDellRoot SSL certificate. The article highlights that the root certificate problem, which allowed for potential hacking and interception of sensitive data, was a result of a pre-installed SSL certificate with a locally stored private key that had a poorly set up password, making it easily crackable [53514].
(b) The accidental nature of the software failure incident is also apparent in the Dell case. The article mentions that the SSL certificate issue was not intended to be malicious but rather to provide a system service tag for Dell's online support to identify computer models quickly. However, the unintended consequences of this implementation led to a serious security vulnerability, showcasing how good intentions can lead to dire consequences if security and privacy aspects are not adequately considered during development [53514]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident described in the article was temporary. The incident involved a security lapse at Dell due to a root certificate problem with the eDellRoot SSL certificate that was pre-installed on Dell PCs through a software update starting in August 15. Dell provided instructions on how to fix the vulnerability, including downloading a patch or waiting for a software update [53514]. The incident was not permanent as Dell took steps to actively address the issue, including re-evaluating their processes companywide to ensure utmost security for customers. Dell acknowledged the problem and was working on resolving it, indicating that it was a temporary failure [53514]. |
| Behaviour |
value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article is not related to a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. The incident involves a security vulnerability related to a pre-installed SSL certificate on Dell PCs, which could compromise SSL communication [53514].
(b) omission: The software failure incident is not related to omission where the system omits to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). The incident is more about a security vulnerability caused by the presence of a pre-installed SSL certificate with a locally stored private key on Dell PCs [53514].
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to timing where the system performs its intended functions correctly but too late or too early. The incident is centered around a security vulnerability related to the SSL certificate on Dell PCs, which could be easily compromised by hackers [53514].
(d) value: The software failure incident is related to a failure in value where the system performs its intended functions incorrectly. Specifically, the incident involves a security lapse where Dell PCs were found to have a pre-installed SSL certificate with a locally stored private key, making SSL communication easily compromised [53514].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident is not related to a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The incident primarily revolves around a security vulnerability due to the presence of the eDellRoot SSL certificate on Dell PCs [53514].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident can be categorized as a security lapse leading to a potential compromise of SSL communication due to the presence of a pre-installed SSL certificate with a locally stored private key on Dell PCs [53514]. |