WPA2 Wi-Fi Vulnerability KRACK

[Vera]

Hi, today a post came out on the Wordfence blog describing a couple of vulnerabilities (see https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2017/10/krack-and-roca/ ).  One of these is in the Wi-Fi WPA-2 protocol. The other is to do with public key authentication. These are not specific solely to Linux, but they affect a huge range of devices.

My question is, are we vulnerable and if so, is there any software that we should be installing on our Linux Lite machines to help protect/mitigate against these vulnerabilities? Any guidance would be much appreciated. Thank you.

EDIT (Jerry): Further reading:

https://usn.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-3455-1/
https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/228519

White paper for the geeks - https://papers.mathyvanhoef.com/ccs2017.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh4WURZoR98

[trinidad]

There is a lot one can do to prevent this with TLS layering but normal users will have to wait a while. It's certainly going to foul up some big ISPs for a while. Look for your little green lock.

https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/krackattack/19798/

And this is pathetically predictable. Look at active managemnet subset.

https://security-center.intel.com/adviso...geid=en-fr

TC

[bonnevie]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like there is something related to wpa in the updates today

Code:

archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/main i386 wpasupplicant i386 2.4-0ubuntu6.2 [987 kB]

[rokytnji]

But because Vanhoef hasn't released any proof-of-concept exploit code, there's little risk of immediate or widespread attacks.

There is no confirmation of this existing in the wild. This crack was done by a white hat under controlled conditions. Got any black war driving vans parked in front of your place?

Living on the Mexican border. I don't even sweat this. But then. My wireless router password was changed from the default "admin" ages ago.

You are not Target store, TJ maxx, or a Experian. The ones this hack will probably be aimed at.  I try and understand a vulnerability from a attacker.
Physical or cloud based. Before I react in fear. 

https://github.com/kristate/krackinfo

Usually. When the Linux world becomes a aware of a threat. You hear next real soon about what should be done.

If you read my gethub link above. Debian and Ubuntu already have patches for this.

[Valtam]

As has been mentioned, this has been patched already. Run Install Updates now.

After Install Updates, open a terminal:

Code:

apt policy wpasupplicant

should return:

Code:

  Installed: 2.4-0ubuntu6.2
  Candidate: 2.4-0ubuntu6.2

If you have 'hostapd' installed too, do:

Code:

apt policy hostapd

should return:

Code:

  Installed: 1:2.4-0ubuntu6.2
  Candidate: 1:2.4-0ubuntu6.2

we do not supply hostapd in Linux Lite. You would of had to have installed this yourself at some point.

Now we just have to wait for our:

    Mobile phones
    Tablets and e-readers that use Wi-Fi
    Home and office routers
    Home devices like NEST, Amazon Echo and Google Home
    Printers, both home and office, that use Wi-Fi
    Any other device that uses Wi-Fi

manufacturers to release patches too.

If you are 'super tinfoil' about this, use a 3G/4G connection until your device manufacturer has patched your other device/s and watch your browser address bar, make sure there is https where it should be!

[Mohd Sohail]

There is a lot one can do to prevent this with TLS layering but normal users will have to wait a while. It's certainly going to foul up some big ISPs for a while. Look for your little green lock.

https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/krackattack/19798/

And this is pathetically predictable. Look at active managemnet subset.

https://security-center.intel.com/adviso...geid=en-fr

TC

It's always good to note the green lock in the URL bar to confirm the data is transmitted securely. Though not every website has the green lock + the browser can be forced to use an HTTP version of a website. So then this tip won't work. But again we've to follow these tips and also use a good VPN to add an extra layer of security.

I hope the manufacturers will soon provide fixes against KRACK. Till then be a little careful.