CVE-2017-13088 in WPA2
Summary
by MITRE
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) that support 802.11v allows reinstallation of the Integrity Group Temporal Key (IGTK) when processing a Wireless Network Management (WNM) Sleep Mode Response frame, allowing an attacker within radio range to replay frames from access points to clients.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13088 represents a critical flaw in the Wi-Fi Protected Access protocol family, specifically affecting both WPA and WPA2 implementations that support the 802.11v standard for wireless network management. This vulnerability resides in the cryptographic key management mechanisms of wireless networks, where the Integrity Group Temporal Key (IGTK) is improperly reinstalled during the processing of Wireless Network Management Sleep Mode Response frames. The flaw enables attackers within radio range to exploit the reinstallation of the IGTK, which serves as a critical component in ensuring the integrity of multicast and broadcast frames within wireless networks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly impacts the fundamental security guarantees provided by WPA/WPA2 protocols, potentially allowing attackers to intercept, modify, or replay wireless communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of the IGTK reinstallation process within the 802.11v wireless management framework. When an access point sends a WNM Sleep Mode Response frame to a client device, the wireless stack processes this frame and inadvertently allows the reinstallation of the IGTK without proper validation mechanisms. This behavior violates the expected cryptographic state management where keys should only be reinstalled under specific, secure conditions. The flaw is classified under CWE-310 as a "Cryptographic Issues" category, specifically relating to improper key handling and reuse. The vulnerability manifests when the wireless client's cryptographic state machine fails to properly detect that a key is being reinstalled, creating an opportunity for frame replay attacks that can compromise the integrity of wireless communications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13088 extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors that can undermine the entire wireless security infrastructure. An attacker within radio range can replay frames from access points to clients, potentially causing the wireless client to accept replayed frames as legitimate communications. This vulnerability particularly affects networks where wireless clients are in sleep mode, as the WNM Sleep Mode Response frame processing creates the specific conditions for the IGTK reinstallation. The attack can result in denial of service conditions, data corruption, or unauthorized access to network resources, as the integrity protection mechanisms for multicast and broadcast frames are compromised. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1486, which describes "Data Encrypted for Impact" and T1566, "Phishing via Social Engineering", as attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized network access through wireless protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13088 require both immediate and long-term approaches to secure wireless network environments. Organizations should prioritize updating wireless access points and client devices with firmware patches that properly handle IGTK reinstallation scenarios, ensuring that the cryptographic state machine correctly validates key reinstallation events. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring mechanisms to detect anomalous frame patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper cryptographic protocol implementation and highlights the necessity of rigorous testing for wireless security protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation, while ensuring that wireless security policies include regular vulnerability assessments and patch management procedures. The resolution of this vulnerability requires careful attention to the 802.11v standard implementation details and proper cryptographic state management within wireless devices, as it represents a fundamental flaw in the wireless security architecture that affects the core integrity protection mechanisms of WPA/WPA2 networks.