WiFi Flaw Allows Eavesdropping Attacks via Downgrading Strategy
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a new vulnerability in the WiFi standard that allows attackers to eavesdrop on network traffic. Learn more about the threat and mitigation measures.
- Security researchers have found a flaw in the WiFi standard that allows attackers to eavesdrop on network traffic and connect victims to untrusted networks.
- These attacks exploit VPN clients with an auto-disconnect feature to connect to unsafe networks.
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a new vulnerability in the IEEE 802.11 WiFi standard. This flaw can be exploited to eavesdrop on a targeted network’s traffic by tricking systems into connecting to networks with lower security. The vulnerability, CVE-2023-52424, affects all WiFi clients and operating systems, including those based on WPA3, WEP, AMPE, and 802.11X/EAP.
The attack uses an SSID confusion method in which targets are downgraded to networks with lesser security by faking the name of trusted networks. This allows threat actors to run further attacks or intercept network traffic. The flaw also allows the disabling of VPNs with an auto-disable feature, further weakening network traffic security.
See More: May Patch Tuesday: Microsoft, Apple, and Google Release Fixes for Actively Exploited Flaws
These attacks are made possible because network names are not always required to be authenticated. This means bad actors can use adversary-in-the-middle attacks to fool victims into connecting to untrustworthy networks with similar credentials without the change being readily apparent. The bug is particularly harmful to organizations such as educational institutes that see higher levels of credential reuse.
WiFi network users are recommended to store network beacons or management frames with the network SSID and update to the 802.11 standard, which allows for authentication of the SSID during the verification process. Users can also reduce risk by avoiding the reuse of credentials across SSIDs.
What best practices does your organization follow to maintain WiFi security? Please share your thoughts on LinkedIn, X, or Facebook. We’d love to hear from you!
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