CVE-2019-9496 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2019-9496, a vulnerability in hostapd with SAE support that could lead to a denial of service attack. Find out the impacted systems, exploitation details, and mitigation steps.
Understanding CVE-2019-9496
This CVE involves a vulnerability in hostapd with SAE support that could lead to a denial of service attack.
What is CVE-2019-9496?
The lack of proper validation steps during the processing of the SAE confirm message in hostapd/AP mode can cause an invalid authentication sequence, resulting in the termination of the hostapd process. This vulnerability affects all versions of hostapd with SAE support.
The Impact of CVE-2019-9496
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to forcibly terminate the hostapd process, leading to a denial of service attack. Both hostapd and wpa_supplicant with SAE support up to version 2.7 are impacted.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-9496
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper validation steps during the processing of the SAE confirm message in hostapd/AP mode.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: hostapd with SAE support
- Vendor: Wi-Fi Alliance
- Versions affected: <= 2.7
- Product: wpa_supplicant with SAE support
- Vendor: Wi-Fi Alliance
- Versions affected: <= 2.7
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability allows an attacker to force the termination of the hostapd process, causing a denial of service attack.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update hostapd and wpa_supplicant to versions beyond 2.7 to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an ongoing attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and firmware to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
Apply patches provided by the Wi-Fi Alliance to address the vulnerability in hostapd and wpa_supplicant.