Categories: Cyber Security NewsVulnerability

Wi-Fi Bug in Millions of Amazon Echo and Kindle Devices Let Attackers Steal Sensitive Details

The KRACK attack was published by two Belgian researchers in October 2017. The attacks are based on the weaknesses in the WPA2 protocol used in modern Wi-Fi devices.

The weakness can be exploited by the attackers using key reinstallation attacks if the victim resides within the network. Successful exploitation of the attack allows attackers to steal sensitive details such as credit card numbers, passwords, chat messages, emails, photos, and so on.

KRACK in Amazon Echo & Kindle

Amazon Echo and Kindle devices are so popular and they are used by Millions of users around the globe. ESET Smart Home researchers observed that Amazon Echo and Kindle devices are vulnerable to KRACK attacks.

Researchers tested the 1st generation of the Amazon Echo devices with original Amazon Alexa and the 8th generation of Amazon Kindle are vulnerable to two KRACK vulnerabilities.

With KRACK scripts, ESET researchers able to “replicate the reinstallation of the pairwise encryption key (PTK-TK) in the four-way handshake (CVE-2017-13077) and reinstallation of the group key (GTK) in the four-way handshake (CVE-2017-13078).”

According to the ESET team, the vulnerabilities let attackers to

Replay old packets to cause a DOS attack or interruptions.
Decrypt the data transmitted.
Attackers can also forge packets.
It can also intercept sensitive details such as passwords or session cookies.

The Amazon home assistant found to be vulnerable to other network vulnerabilities than KRACK. The vulnerability lets attackers launch a broadcast replay attack.

The vulnerabilities were reported to Amazon on October 23rd, 2018 and Amazon acknowledged the issue and on January 8th, 2019 ESET receives that Amazon can replicate the issue.

To fix the vulnerabilities Amazon distributing a new version of software application wpa_supplicant that responsible for correct authentication to the Wi-Fi network.

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Gurubaran

Gurubaran is a co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security. He has 10+ years of experience as a Security Consultant, Editor, and Analyst in cybersecurity, technology, and communications.