Threat Models are not Perfect
¨ 1986: 5ESS: 5mins downtime in 25 years
Including routine maintenance
Included backup batteries, power fail detection, and “scream for
help” facilities for unattended (switching bunker) operation.
¨ Mother’s Day, 1988, Hinsdale Illinois
Switching center fire disrupts service to 35,000 customers
This was a triple failure: ambiguous alarm design, simultaneous
low probability alarms (power, fire), failure of alarm circuits to
reset correctly.
¨ Threat model was (needless to say) revised…
SECURITY IS A PROCESS,
NOT A SOLUTION!
600.436 High-
Assurance Systems
Fall 01/Introduction
22