Broadcom Wi-Fi Chipset Flaw Allows Hackers to Disrupt Networks

A vulnerability that can be exploited to disrupt networks has been found in a Broadcom Wi-Fi chipset by researchers at application security company Black Duck.

The researchers discovered the security hole while testing an Asus router, but further analysis conducted in collaboration with the vendor revealed that the issue actually existed in Broadcom chipset software used by the router.

The vulnerability could pose a significant threat as it can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker to disrupt network connectivity in organizations that use always-on wireless access.

Specifically, an attacker can use a single specially crafted Wi-Fi frame to disable a router’s 5 GHz network, and disconnect active clients and prevent them from reconnecting.

The attack bypasses WPA2 and WPA3 protections, and it can be repeated indefinitely to cause prolonged network disruptions. However, the cybersecurity firm pointed out that Ethernet connections and the 2.4 GHz network are not affected ...