Incident: Security Hole in ZTE Score M Allows Unauthorized Device Control

Published Date: 2012-05-18

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident of the security hole in MetroPCS' ZTE Score M happened before May 10, 2012, as indicated by the article [12189].
System The system that failed in the software failure incident reported in Article 12189 is: 1. ZTE Score M - The Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) phone manufactured by ZTE Corporation and sold in the United States on MetroPCS was found to have a security hole that allowed unauthorized access due to a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor [12189].
Responsible Organization 1. An anonymous poster who revealed the hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor in the ZTE Score M device [12189].
Impacted Organization 1. MetroPCS' ZTE Score M device users [12189]
Software Causes 1. The software cause of the failure incident was a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor in the ZTE Score M device, allowing unauthorized access and control by third parties [12189].
Non-software Causes 1. Lack of proper security testing and oversight during the development process, leading to the inclusion of a hard-coded password backdoor in the ZTE Score M device [12189].
Impacts 1. The software failure incident in the ZTE Score M allowed third parties to control the device through a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor, potentially compromising user data and privacy [12189]. 2. The incident tarnished ZTE's reputation as a cell phone vendor, especially in the U.S. market, where Chinese companies like ZTE and Huawei face skepticism and rumors linking them to the Chinese government [12189].
Preventions 1. Implementing proper code review processes to catch hard-coded passwords and backdoors during development [12189]. 2. Conducting regular security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited by malicious actors [12189]. 3. Following secure coding practices and principles to avoid introducing security holes in the software [12189]. 4. Providing timely software updates and patches to address known security vulnerabilities [12189].
Fixes 1. ZTE can fix the software failure incident by releasing a security patch to address the security hole in the ZTE Score M device, as promised in their official statement before May 31, 2012 [12189].
References 1. The articles gather information about the software failure incident from a guest post on Pastebin that included a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor in the ZTE Score M device [12189].

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization (a) The software failure incident related to a security hole in ZTE Score M allowing third parties to control the device is specific to ZTE Corporation. ZTE confirmed the existence of the security hole in the ZTE Score M and mentioned that the security flaw does not exist in another device, the ZTE Skate [12189]. This indicates that the incident is limited to ZTE products. (b) The articles do not provide information about a similar incident happening at other organizations or with their products and services.
Phase (Design/Operation) design (a) The software failure incident in this case is related to the design phase. The security hole in the ZTE Score M was due to a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor that was present in the system. This backdoor was a result of a technical defect in the design of the device's software, allowing unauthorized access to the device [12189]. (b) The software failure incident is not related to the operation phase or misuse of the system. It was specifically attributed to a design flaw in the system that allowed third parties to control the device through the security hole [12189].
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident, in this case, the security hole in the ZTE Score M, was due to a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor that was present within the system itself. The post on Pastebin revealed the existence of a setuid-root application at /system/bin/sync_agent that served as the backdoor, allowing unauthorized access to the device [12189]. ZTE acknowledged the technical defect within the ZTE Score M units and confirmed the presence of the security hole, indicating that the issue originated from within the system [12189].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions (a) The software failure incident in this case was due to non-human actions. The security hole in the ZTE Score M was a result of a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor that was present in the device's system. This backdoor provided unauthorized access to the device, allowing third parties to control it without any human intervention [12189].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) hardware, software (a) The software failure incident in this case is related to hardware. The incident involved a security hole in the ZTE Score M phone, specifically a setuid-root application at /system/bin/sync_agent that provided a root shell backdoor on the device. This hardware-related security flaw allowed third parties to control the device [12189]. (b) The software failure incident is also related to software. The presence of a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor in the ZTE Score M phone indicates a software vulnerability that allowed unauthorized access to the device. The software flaw in the form of the backdoor was exploited by a hacker to gain control over the device [12189].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident in this case is malicious. A security hole was discovered in the ZTE Score M phone, allowing third parties to control the device. An anonymous post on Pastebin revealed a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor, which could be used by hackers to gain access to the device. This backdoor was intentionally placed in the device, indicating malicious intent to exploit the security vulnerability ([12189]).
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions (a) The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to poor decisions made during the development of the ZTE Score M device. A hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor was included in the device's system, allowing unauthorized access to the device. This poor decision introduced a significant security vulnerability that could be exploited by third parties [12189].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence, accidental (a) The software failure incident in this case can be attributed to development incompetence. The incident involved a security hole in the ZTE Score M phone, which was found to have a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor, allowing unauthorized access to the device [12189]. This indicates a lack of professional competence in ensuring secure coding practices and proper security measures during the development of the device. (b) Additionally, the incident can also be categorized as accidental, as the presence of the root shell backdoor with a hard-coded password was not intentional but rather a technical defect that exposed the ZTE Score M units to potential third-party exploitation [12189]. This accidental introduction of a security vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough testing and security audits during the development process to prevent such incidents.
Duration temporary (a) The software failure incident in this case is temporary. The incident involved a security hole in the ZTE Score M device that allowed third parties to control the device through a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor. ZTE acknowledged the technical defect and announced plans to release a security patch before May 31, 2012, to address the issue. This indicates that the failure was due to contributing factors introduced by certain circumstances (the security flaw) but not all, and it was not a permanent issue [12189].
Behaviour other (a) crash: The software failure incident in this case does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. The incident is related to a security hole that allows unauthorized access to the device [12189]. (b) omission: The software failure incident does not involve the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). Instead, it is about a security vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to the device [12189]. (c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to the system performing its intended functions too late or too early. It is about a security flaw that exposes the device to potential third-party exploitation [12189]. (d) value: The software failure incident is not about the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. It is related to a security vulnerability that could be exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access to the device [12189]. (e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not involve the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. It is primarily a security vulnerability issue that allows unauthorized access to the device [12189]. (f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident can be categorized as a security vulnerability that creates a backdoor for unauthorized access to the device. The incident involves the presence of a hard-coded password for a root shell backdoor on the ZTE Score M device, which was discovered by a guest post on Pastebin [12189].

IoT System Layer

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

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence harm, property (a) death: People lost their lives due to the software failure (b) harm: People were physically harmed due to the software failure (c) basic: People's access to food or shelter was impacted because of the software failure (d) property: People's material goods, money, or data was impacted due to the software failure (e) delay: People had to postpone an activity due to the software failure (f) non-human: Non-human entities were impacted due to the software failure (g) no_consequence: There were no real observed consequences of the software failure (h) theoretical_consequence: There were potential consequences discussed of the software failure that did not occur (i) other: Was there consequence(s) of the software failure not described in the (a to h) options? What is the other consequence(s)? Based on the provided article [12189], the consequence of the software failure incident related to the security hole in MetroPCS' ZTE Score M was primarily related to potential harm and property impact. The security hole allowed third parties to control the device, potentially compromising user data and privacy. However, there were no reported instances of actual harm or loss of life due to this software failure. The primary consequence was the security vulnerability itself, which could lead to unauthorized access to personal data stored on the device. The incident prompted ZTE to issue a security patch to address the flaw and protect users' information.
Domain information (a) The failed system in this incident was related to the information industry. The ZTE Score M, a phone by ZTE Corporation, was affected by a security hole that allowed unauthorized access to the device [12189]. The incident involved a security flaw in the Android phone, highlighting a vulnerability in the production and distribution of information technology.

Sources

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