Serious WPA2 vulnerability discovered

[zappaDPJ]

I don't really know how credible this is but having read through the entire document it sounds like something we should all be a little concerned about.

We discovered serious weaknesses in WPA2, a protocol that secures all modern protected Wi-Fi networks. An attacker within range of a victim can exploit these weaknesses using key reinstallation attacks (KRACKs). Concretely, attackers can use this novel attack technique to read information that was previously assumed to be safely encrypted. This can be abused to steal sensitive information such as credit card numbers, passwords, chat messages, emails, photos, and so on. The attack works against all modern protected Wi-Fi networks. Depending on the network configuration, it is also possible to inject and manipulate data. For example, an attacker might be able to inject ransomware or other malware into websites.

https://www.krackattacks.com/

[Simon]

 

Something else to worry about!

[zappaDPJ]

 

Something else to worry about!

I now think it is, it's being reported by the mainstream press now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-41641814/krack-wi-fi-security-flaw-explained
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/16/wpa2-wifi-security-vulnerable-hacking-us-government-warns

[Bill]

Most reports I've seen suggest that connecting to sites with properly set up https is reasonably safe...

Not sure whose problem that is for this site, except that it's not mine 

[Gary]

Shame this site does not have https <sigh>

[robinc]

It does appear to require a huge amount of computing resource to actually achieve this, so unless your next door neighbour has a supercomputer tucked away somewhere it it doesn't look like an attack is imminent.

Perhaps changing your wifi key/password once a week and making it really really long will be of some help.

In the meantime I guess ethernet rulez

Who knows, this may even put the boot into Smart Meters rollout 

[nowster]

It doesn't look as if the WPA2 stack on Windows is vulnerable. Anything based on wpa_supplicant/hostapd will be. This includes Linux and Android. Patches started trickling out yesterday. I don't know about Apple, but it's likely their products are vulnerable.

[Gary]

It doesn't look as if the WPA2 stack on Windows is vulnerable. Anything based on wpa_supplicant/hostapd will be. This includes Linux and Android. Patches started trickling out yesterday. I don't know about Apple, but it's likely their products are vulnerable.

Apples gear is patched in the latest betas which they are rolling out soon. Netgear routers are not vulnerable unless in bridge mode then they are a client which causes the issue. The problem is so many older devices like TV's, blu-ray players etc may never get patched, also Android phones may take months to patch 41% are vulnerable as of now. Google has to make the patch then it has to go to the network providers to be tested then incorporated into their firmware on Android phones that are not bought sim free but come bought from places like Vodafone etc who also add their own layer of bloat. I'm guessing many Android phones wont see a patch at all like older iPhones and loads of older tablets too and old linux devices which are like Android the most vulnerable and most TV's set top boxes etc are Linux based. As to tall the IoT gadgets good luck with them 

[zappaDPJ]

Shame this site does not have https <sigh>

It's something I've been looking at for a while. It may well be implemented after the next still in development SMF upgrade becomes available.

[robinc]

Debian Jessie - my wpasupplicant was updated this morning. That was quick.

[nowster]

Windows is affected: https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/CHEU-AQNMYP

Apple have been quiet: https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/CHEU-AQNMWZ

[zappaDPJ]

Apple should have a patch out soon: https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/16/krack-wifi-vulnerabilities-patched-apple-ios-macos/

[Gary]

It's something I've been looking at for a while. It may well be implemented after the next still in development SMF upgrade becomes available.

I think now more than ever it needs it, Zap.

[steve195527]

I find in general Microsoft are far more forthcoming about security issues AND seem to patch them quicker than Apple,even though the general consensus is the opposite,maybe Apple play on users belief that their products are more or less immune from malware/hackers etc?

[Gary]

I find in general Microsoft are far more forthcoming about security issues AND seem to patch them quicker than Apple,even though the general consensus is the opposite,maybe Apple play on users belief that their products are more or less immune from malware/hackers etc?

I wouldn't says that they don't always patch faster both are as bad as each other at times. I mean in 2014 Microsoft patched a 19 year old critical bug that's hardly fast and Apple had a vulnerability in the release on High Sierra this year. Apple users are more immune to some malware but its on the rise and they know that too. Nobody believes they are immune these days and if they do they are idiots. 

[steve195527]

I wouldn't says that they don't always patch faster both are as bad as each other at times. I mean in 2014 Microsoft patched a 19 year old critical bug that's hardly fast and Apple had a vulnerability in the release on High Sierra this year. Apple users are more immune to some malware but its on the rise and they know that too. Nobody believes they are immune these days and if they do they are idiots. 

malware writers play a numbers game,only reason macs were more immune was there was hardly any written/released to attack them it wasn't worth targeting a relatively low number of users when they could target millions more through pc's,if it's the 19yr old bug I think you mean it was only discovered when it was 19yrs old,microsoft patched quickly after then,also where did rootkits first rear their heads:-was unix/Linux  not windows

[Gary]

malware writers play a numbers game,only reason macs were more immune was there was hardly any written/released to attack them it wasn't worth targeting a relatively low number of users when they could target millions more through pc's,if it's the 19yr old bug I think you mean it was only discovered when it was 19yrs old,microsoft patched quickly after then,also where did rootkits first rear their heads:-was unix/Linux  not windows

Long ago getting into Apple vs Windows sparring matches became very dull and repetitive, and getting into a Linux vs Unix vs Microsoft one is something I decided to avoid because of its shear tedium. I see no reason to change that decision now.

[Technical Ben]

That and some of the devices have learnt from MS mistakes.

Like Apple phones having an "enclave" etc built and designed in. Some things are available in Pro versions of Windows (entire disk encryption etc), but not on the home version... this also makes things harder to protect, than say Linux etc (who may sandbox more in the past, and home Windows is catching up).

[zappaDPJ]

I think now more than ever it needs it, Zap.

It's at the top of my list but it's proving to be somewhat problematical.