CVE-2017-13077 in MICROS Handheld Terminal
Summary
by MITRE
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) allows reinstallation of the Pairwise Transient Key (PTK) Temporal Key (TK) during the four-way handshake, allowing an attacker within radio range to replay, decrypt, or spoof frames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13077 represents a critical flaw in the Wi-Fi Protected Access protocol family, specifically affecting both WPA and WPA2 implementations. This weakness stems from the four-way handshake mechanism that establishes secure communication between wireless clients and access points, creating an opportunity for sophisticated attackers to exploit the cryptographic protocol's design. The vulnerability operates at the core of wireless security infrastructure, where the Pairwise Transient Key and Temporal Key are intended to provide session-specific encryption but can be manipulated through careful replay attacks. The security implications extend far beyond simple data interception, as this flaw enables attackers to not only decrypt sensitive communications but also to spoof frames and potentially gain unauthorized access to network resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to intercept and manipulate the four-way handshake process that occurs when wireless devices authenticate with access points. During normal operation, the handshake establishes a unique Temporal Key for each session through a series of four messages that should prevent replay attacks. However, CVE-2017-13077 allows adversaries to force the reinstallation of previously used keys, effectively resetting the cryptographic state and enabling the replay of captured packets. This manipulation occurs within the radio range of the target network, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal infrastructure beyond standard wireless monitoring equipment. The flaw specifically targets the key derivation process where the Pairwise Transient Key is computed, allowing attackers to perform cryptographic operations that should be protected by the protocol's inherent security properties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations across all sectors that rely on wireless connectivity for their operations. Network administrators face the potential for complete loss of confidentiality for wireless communications, as attackers can decrypt sensitive data transmitted over the air. The ability to spoof frames creates additional risks where malicious actors can inject false data into network communications, potentially leading to man-in-the-middle attacks, session hijacking, or network disruption. This vulnerability particularly impacts environments with high-value data transmission such as financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and government agencies where wireless security is paramount. The ease of exploitation means that even organizations with strong network monitoring may not detect the attack, as the malicious behavior mimics legitimate protocol operations, making detection through standard network analysis tools extremely difficult.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13077 require immediate action from network administrators and device manufacturers to address the root cause of the vulnerability. The most effective approach involves implementing firmware updates from device vendors that properly handle the four-way handshake process and prevent key reinstallation attacks. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and additional security layers such as network access control, intrusion detection systems, and monitoring for unusual handshake patterns. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, demonstrating how this flaw can be leveraged in broader attack campaigns. Security professionals must also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous handshake behavior and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle wireless protocol attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper cryptographic protocol implementation and the need for continuous security assessment of fundamental network security mechanisms.