CVE-2017-13084 in WPA2
Summary
by MITRE
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) allows reinstallation of the Station-To-Station-Link (STSL) Transient Key (STK) during the PeerKey handshake, allowing an attacker within radio range to replay, decrypt, or spoof frames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13084 represents a critical flaw in the Wi-Fi Protected Access protocol family, specifically affecting both WPA and WPA2 implementations. This weakness resides in the PeerKey handshake mechanism, which is designed to establish secure communication between wireless devices. The vulnerability allows attackers within radio range to exploit a specific window in the key reinstallation process, fundamentally undermining the security guarantees that WPA and WPA2 protocols are meant to provide. The flaw demonstrates the inherent complexity of wireless security protocols and how subtle implementation issues can lead to catastrophic security breaches.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of the Station-To-Station-Link Transient Key during the PeerKey handshake process. When a wireless station receives a key reinstallation message, the protocol fails to properly validate or reject duplicate key installation requests. This allows an attacker to manipulate the key reinstallation process by replaying previously used keys, effectively resetting the encryption state of the communication channel. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it operates at the wireless protocol level, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring tools. This flaw aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues related to key management and reinstallation attacks. The attack vector requires only proximity to the wireless network, making it accessible to attackers in physical locations where wireless networks are deployed.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13084 extends far beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can completely compromise wireless communications. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can not only decrypt previously captured traffic but also inject malicious frames into the communication stream, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The ability to replay frames means that attackers can manipulate wireless communications in real-time, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for sensitive applications such as financial transactions, healthcare data transmission, or industrial control systems. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning, T1071.004 for application layer protocol web protocols, and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The widespread adoption of WPA and WPA2 protocols across enterprise and consumer networks means that this vulnerability affects a massive attack surface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13084 require immediate attention from network administrators and security teams. The most effective immediate solution involves updating wireless access points and client devices to firmware versions that properly handle key reinstallation scenarios. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous key reinstallation patterns and consider deploying additional security layers such as network segmentation and intrusion detection systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust key management protocols and proper implementation of cryptographic primitives in wireless security systems. Security teams should also consider implementing network access control measures that can detect and prevent the exploitation of such wireless protocol vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of wireless infrastructure are essential to identify and remediate similar implementation flaws before they can be exploited by adversaries. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing of wireless protocols and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all network infrastructure components.