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[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

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[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.

tplink

2017-10-17 11:29:42

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Registered: 2012-03-28

[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-17 11:29:42

Dear All,

On October 16th, 2017, an security researcher has disclosed some severe flaws in the WPA2 security protocol.

Description of the vulnerability
The vulnerability that known as "KRACK", short for Key Reinstallation Attack, will target the four-way handshake of the WPA2 protocol. Mathy Vanhoef, who published the flaw, said that the flaw may allow an attacker within the Wi-Fi range to decrypt network traffic from a WPA2-enabled device, hijack connections, and inject content into the traffic stream.
The publisher also points out that, the main attack is against the 4-way handshake, and does not exploit access points, but instead targets clients. So it might be that your router does not require security updates.
For more details, please refer to the below article published by Vanhoef:
https://www.krackattacks.com/

The following Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifiers were assigned to track which products are affected by specific instantiations of the key reinstallation attack:CVE-2017-13077, CVE-2017-13078, CVE-2017-13079, CVE-2017-13080, CVE-2017-13081, CVE-2017-13082, CVE-2017-13084, CVE-2017-13086, CVE-2017-13087, CVE-2017-13088

TP-Link is aware of the vulnerabilities (KRACKs) in the WPA-2 protocol. We have published a security advisory on the official website and are working to solve the problems now.
Security Advisory: http://www.tp-link.com/en/faq-1970.html
[FONT=&]Software updates for the affected devices will be post at http://www.tp-link.com/support.html over the next few weeks.[/FONT]
Your network security is highly regarded by TP-Link.

Clarification for the WPA2 Vulnerabilities:
1. Please have a look at the article published by Mathy Vanhoef and pay attention to the QA listed at the end:
Q: What if there are no security updates for my router?
A: Our main attack is against the 4-way handshake, and does not exploit access points, but instead targets clients. So it might be that your router does not require security updates. We strongly advise you to contact your vendor for more details. In general though, you can try to mitigate attacks against routers and access points by disabling client functionality (which is for example used in repeater modes) and disabling 802.11r (fast roaming). For ordinary home users, your priority should be updating clients such as laptops and smartphones.

From the QA, we can get clear that the vulnerabilities only targets the devices act as Wi-Fi clients, including laptops, smartphones, range extenders working in RE mode, routers/gateways working in RE/WDS/WISP mode.
Thus if you're using the following TP-Link products:
(Unaffected Devices)
# All powerline adapters
# All mobile Wi-Fi products
# Routers and gateways working on default Router mode or Access Point mode
# Range extenders working in AP mode
You will not be affected by the WPA2 vulnerabilities. What you need to do is updating your Wi-Fi clients.

2. Conditions under which devices are vulnerable:
# Physical proximity: An attack can only happen when an attacker is in physical proximity to and within wireless range of your network.
# Time window: An attack can only happen when a client is connecting or reconnecting to a Wi-Fi network.

Devices affected by the vulnerability
Routers working in Repeater Mode/WISP Mode/Client Mode：

TL-WR940N with firmware version 3.17.1 Build 170717 Rel.55495n or earlier (Hardware Version 3.0 or earlier not affected)
[FONT=verdana]TL-WR841Nv13 with firmware version 0.9.1 4.16 v0348.0 Build 170814 Rel.59214n or earlier (Hardware Version 12.0 or earlier not affected)
TL-WR840N with firmware version 0.9.1 4.16 v019a.0 Build 170524 Rel.56478n or earlier (Hardware Version 2.0 or earlier not affected)
TL-WR941HP with firmware version 3.16.9 Build 20170116 Rel.50912n or earlier
TL-WR841HP with firmware version 3.16.9 Build 160612 Rel.67073n or earlier
TL-WR902AC with firmware version 3.16.9 Build 20160905 Rel.61455n or earlier
TL-WR802N with firmware version 0.9.1 3.16 v0188.0 Build 170705 Rel.34179n or earlier
TL-WR810N with firmware version 3.16.9 Build 160801 Rel.57365n or earlier
Routers with WDS function enabled (disabled by default) may be affected. Refer to the [COLOR=#0000ff]FAQ to learn how to check if WDS is enabled on your router.

Range Extenders working in Repeater Mode during a WPA2 handshake that is initiated only when connecting or reconnecting to a router:
TL-WA850RE with firmware version 1.0.0 Build 20170609 Rel.34153 or earlier
TL-WA855RE with firmware version 1.0.0 Build 20170609 Rel.36187 or earlier
TL-WA860RE with firmware version 1.0.0 Build 20170609 Rel.38491 or earlier
RE200 with firmware version 1.1.3 Build 20170818 Rel.58183 or earlier
RE210 with firmware version 3.14.2 Build 160623 Rel.43391n or earlier
RE305 with firmware version 1.0.0 Build 20170614 Rel.42952 or earlier
RE450 with firmware version 1.0.2 Build 20170626 Rel.60833 or earlier
RE500 with firmware version 1.0.1 Build20170210 Rel.59671 or earlier
RE650 with firmware version 1.0.2 Build 20170524 Rel.58598 or earlier

Wireless Adapters:
Archer T6E
Archer T9E

Whole Home Wi-Fi System:
Deco M5 with firmware version 1.1.5 Build 20170820 Rel.62483 or earlier

CPE/WBS/CAP:
CAP300 with firmware version 1.1.0 Build 20170601 Rel.60253 or earlier
CAP300-Outdoor with firmware version 1.1.0 Build 20170601 Rel.60212 or earlier
CAP1750 with firmware version 1.1.0 Build 20170601 Rel.60196 or earlier
CAP1200 with firmware version 1.0.0 Build 20170801 Rel.61314 or earlier
TL-ER604W with firmware version 1.2.0 Build 20160825 Rel.45880 or earlier
CPE520 with firmware version 2.1.6 Build 20170908 Rel.45234 or earlier
CPE610 with firmware version 2.1.5 Build 20170830 Rel. 58245 or earlier
CPE510 with firmware version 2.1.6 Build 20170908 Rel. 45233 or earlier
CPE220 with firmware version 2.1.6 Build 20170908 Rel. 45233 or earlier
CPE210 with firmware version 2.1.6 Build 20170908 Rel. 45234 or earlier
WBS210 with firmware version 2.1.0 Build 20170609 Rel. 57434 or earlier
WBS510 with firmware version 2.1.6 Build 20170908 Rel. 45234 or earlier

Smart home devices:
Smart Plugs and Switch: HS100，HS105，HS110，HS200
Smart Repeater with Plugs: RE350K，RE270K，RE370K
Cameras: NC250，NC260，NC450, KC120
[/FONT]
How to protect your devices
Until a software update is available to eliminate the vulnerability for your product, it is recommended to take the following precautions:
For wireless routers: Make sure your routers are in Router Mode or AP Mode, and patch the operating system of your smartphones, tablets and computers.
For wireless adapters: Patch the operating system of your computers.
Microsoft security update: Microsoft has fixed such security issues as mentioned in https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-13080

TP-Link has been working on affected models and will release firmware over the next few weeks on our official website.

Reversion History
2017-10-17: Initial release
2017-10-18: Updated some clarifications for the WPA2 vulnerabilities
2017-10-18: Updated the list of affected devices

149 Reply

tplink

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2017-10-19 19:27:18

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Re:[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-19 19:27:18

tplinkuser12123 wrote

My Ap is connected to my router by cable. So is it safe or not?

Just keep the wired cable connection. The AP itself is safe.
But need to check and update your Wi-Fi client devices such as phones and computers to get rid of the flaws.

#72

tplinkuser1212

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2017-10-19 19:39:52

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Re:[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-19 19:39:52

All clients are fixed. There are only windows clients.

#73

skyman

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2017-10-19 19:52:38

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Re:[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-19 19:52:38

So if I understand correctly, the TP-Link routers are safe? But it doesn't make any difference if our clients aren't patched (phones, computers)?

#74

tplink

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2017-10-19 20:25:55

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Re:[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-19 20:25:55

skyman wrote

So if I understand correctly, the TP-Link routers are safe? But it doesn't make any difference if our clients aren't patched (phones, computers)?

That's the point if you get deeper into the publisher's paper. The key reinstallation attacks mainly target the client devices. This is why some phones & computers manufactures such as Microsoft, Intel and Apple, are notified about the vulnerabilities in advance and patch their products at the first time that the vulnerability is reported.
Suppose a router has the vulnerability issue and already gets a fix, the issue will remain if your clients are still not patched. Many people have a misunderstanding on this case, regarding that get the router patched will solve all the problems.
The reality is that, routers that have vulnerabilities (802.11r enabled) should be patched, all the Wi-Fi clients should be patched as well to ensure a safe Wi-Fi network.

#75

Dooremole

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2017-10-19 20:34:45

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Re:[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-19 20:34:45

password wrote

You must have built a landing page which people could check their router is ok or not.

Great idea

#76

moonster

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2017-10-19 20:40:38

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Re:[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-19 20:40:38

tplinkuser12123 wrote

All clients are fixed. There are only windows clients.

This is the part that confuses me a bit. Is this vulnerability at the OS level and not driver level? Many wireless cards have vendor specific drivers that are not maintained by Microsoft.
Article: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3233198/microsoft-windows/microsoft-shuts-down-krack-with-sneaky-windows-update.html

#77

13iron

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2017-10-19 21:25:16

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Router Mode or AP Mode on my Archer C50

2017-10-19 21:25:16

ok after reading this sticky... can u provide me with 1) where to find instructions on how to put my Archer C50 in Router Mode or AP Mode?

thnx in advance for help with this issue! (i'm a noob, lol)

#78

Sitedrifter

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2017-10-19 21:47:28

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Re:[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-19 21:47:28

tplinkuser12123 wrote

All clients are fixed. There are only windows clients.

Not correct. Android clients are still broken to all hell! Terrible support model that Google has.

#79

Sitedrifter

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2017-10-19 21:48:14

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Re:[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

2017-10-19 21:48:14

moonster wrote

This is the part that confuses me a bit. Is this vulnerability at the OS level and not driver level? Many wireless cards have vendor specific drivers that are not maintained by Microsoft.
Article: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3233198/microsoft-windows/microsoft-shuts-down-krack-with-sneaky-windows-update.html

it is at the OS level.

#80

13iron

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2017-10-19 22:00:26

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Archer C50 Router Mode

2017-10-19 22:00:26

plz provide instruction on how to put my Archer C50 into "Router Mode" or where to find instruction

#81

[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

[Security Flaws] Severe flaws called "KRACK" are discovered in the WPA2 protocol

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