| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to iCloud and the Phone Password Breaker tool described in Article 12353 highlights a vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to iPhone data stored in iCloud. This incident could be considered a failure on the part of Apple's iCloud service in terms of data security and privacy. The incident involving the Phone Password Breaker tool accessing iCloud data without physical access to the device could be seen as a recurring issue within the organization (Apple) in terms of data protection and encryption.
(b) The incident described in Article 12353 involving the Phone Password Breaker tool and iCloud could also be a concern for other organizations that rely on cloud services for data storage and synchronization. The vulnerability exploited in this incident could potentially affect other cloud service providers or organizations offering similar backup and synchronization solutions. This highlights a broader issue of data security and privacy in cloud services that may not be limited to just one organization. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article where it is mentioned that the software called Phone Password Breaker was able to exploit a vulnerability in Apple's iCloud service. This software allowed for the unauthorized access to all data stored on iCloud, including pictures, text messages, emails, call logs, and more, without the user's knowledge [12353].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the article as it describes how the Phone Password Breaker software could be used by investigators or anyone with the correct credentials to access and download all the information from iCloud in real-time while the phone is still in the hands of a suspect. This highlights a failure in the operation of the system, allowing for unauthorized access and potential misuse of the data stored on iCloud [12353]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident described in the article is related to a vulnerability within the iCloud system itself. The Phone Password Breaker software exploited a flaw in the iCloud service, allowing it to download all data from iCloud without needing physical access to the iPhone. This failure originated from within the system, as the flaw was present in the way iCloud communicated with iPhone users and stored data on servers [12353].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident also involved external factors, such as the use of the Phone Password Breaker software by investigators or individuals to exploit the vulnerability in iCloud. While the flaw was within the system, the external factor of unauthorized access to the software and iCloud accounts contributed to the incident [12353]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to non-human actions. The incident involves a piece of spying software called Phone Password Breaker that can access all data from Apple's iCloud service without needing physical access to the iPhone. This software allows for real-time access to a user's phone data without the owner noticing, demonstrating a failure caused by non-human actions [12353].
(b) The software failure incident in the article also involves human actions. Investigators or anyone with the software can access iCloud data by using a valid Apple ID and password. This means that human actions, such as having the correct credentials, play a significant role in exploiting the software vulnerability to access sensitive information [12353]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to hardware as it discusses how the Phone Password Breaker software can exploit vulnerabilities in Apple's iCloud service to access data from iPhones without needing physical access to the device. This indicates that the failure is due to contributing factors originating in the hardware (iPhones and iCloud servers) rather than the software itself [12353].
(b) The software failure incident is also related to software as the Phone Password Breaker software is specifically designed to exploit the iCloud service and retrieve data from iPhones in real-time. The software's ability to bypass traditional methods of accessing device backups and directly retrieve information from iCloud servers highlights a software-related failure in terms of security vulnerabilities and unauthorized access [12353]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious in nature. The incident involves the use of a spying software called Phone Password Breaker, which allows police or anyone with the software to track and access all data from an iPhone through Apple's iCloud service without the user's knowledge. This software is used for snooping and accessing personal information without the owner's consent, indicating malicious intent to invade privacy and potentially harm individuals [12353].
(b) There is no information in the article suggesting a non-malicious software failure incident. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident in this case seems to align more with poor_decisions. The software mentioned in the article, Phone Password Breaker, was designed to exploit a vulnerability in iCloud to allow access to iPhone data without physical access to the device. This software was created with the intent of bypassing security measures and accessing sensitive information without the user's knowledge or consent. This can be seen as a poor decision in terms of privacy and security implications [12353]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as the Phone Password Breaker software developed by ElcomSoft allowed for unauthorized access to iCloud data without needing physical access to the iPhone. This software exploited a vulnerability in the iCloud service, enabling anyone with the correct email address and password to download all the information from iCloud in real-time without the user's knowledge [12353].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is seen in the article as the researchers at ElcomSoft unintentionally discovered the communication protocol connecting iPhone users with iCloud and were able to retrieve data stored on the servers by figuring out the right commands. Additionally, the data received from iCloud was in an unencrypted format, making it easier for them to access the information [12353]. |
| Duration |
unknown |
The software failure incident described in the article does not fit the typical definitions of a permanent or temporary failure. The incident discussed in the article is related to a security vulnerability in Apple's iCloud service that allows unauthorized access to users' data through a third-party software called Phone Password Breaker. This vulnerability is not a typical software failure in terms of a bug, crash, or glitch but rather a security flaw that enables unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in iCloud. Therefore, the incident is more accurately described as a security breach or vulnerability rather than a temporary or permanent software failure. |
| Behaviour |
other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. Instead, the software in question, Phone Password Breaker, is able to successfully download all data from Apple's iCloud service without crashing or losing functionality [12353].
(b) omission: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). The software in question, Phone Password Breaker, is able to successfully retrieve all data from iCloud without any omissions [12353].
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to timing issues where the system performs its intended functions too late or too early. The software, Phone Password Breaker, is able to access iCloud data in near-real-time, allowing for quick retrieval of information [12353].
(d) value: The failure is not due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. In this case, the software successfully retrieves all data from iCloud as intended [12353].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not involve a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The software, Phone Password Breaker, consistently accesses iCloud data without erratic behavior [12353].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a privacy breach or unauthorized access. The software, Phone Password Breaker, allows for the unauthorized retrieval of personal data from iCloud without the user's knowledge or consent, highlighting a significant security flaw [12353]. |