Traffic interception via unauthenticated SSID binding
Published May 17, 2024 · Updated Feb 13, 2025
Authentication confusion in IEEE 802.11 allows physically proximate attackers to redirect Wi-Fi clients and intercept network traffic. The standard does not consistently bind the SSID into pairwise-master-key derivation or protect the SSID during the four-way handshake, so a relay can substitute a different network name. Exploitation requires a victim connection attempt, a second network accepting the same credentials, and an attacker within wireless range; the consequence is traffic interception or manipulation.
Summary
What happened
Authentication confusion in IEEE 802.11 allows physically proximate attackers to redirect Wi-Fi clients and intercept network traffic. The standard does not consistently bind the SSID into pairwise-master-key derivation or protect the SSID during the four-way handshake, so a relay can substitute a different network name. Exploitation requires a victim connection attempt, a second network accepting the same credentials, and an attacker within wireless range; the consequence is traffic interception or manipulation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-52424
- Published
- May 17, 2024
- Updated
- Feb 13, 2025
- Vendor
- IEEE
- Product
- IEEE 802.11
- Classifications
- CWE-304, T1557.004
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 17, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 13, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- ssid-confusion-hostapfunctional · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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