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General => General Technical Chat => Topic started by: eti on July 12, 2020, 04:53:56 am

Title: Mesh WiFi node auto setup: what's being sent?
Post by: eti on July 12, 2020, 04:53:56 am

[EDIT]: I have added a "Wireshark" capture which I obtained by plugging the disc (node) into my laptop via ethernet, and then turning on the disc. (ZIP attached)


I've got a new mesh router + discs set ("EE" Smart router + 3 of their "Smart WiFi discs"). Each disc is a node, and in the user guide it says that, to configure each disc, merely plug it into the smart router via ethernet until the disc led is solid blue, then disconnect - okay, fine.

Question: what protocol or data/methods are being employed to auto setup the discs this way, and could this be exploited by someone with a device that emulates the conversation the two devices are having, to steal credentials? I'm by no means a networking expert, but know enough.

Thank you.

Title: Re: Mesh WiFi node auto setup: what's being sent?
Post by: Whales on July 12, 2020, 05:18:58 am

Probably.  The world of wifi devices is full of nonstandard stuff, and a lot of OTS wifi APs come with provisioning tools that require no password (you have to be the first & fastest is the security model).

Do the mesh routers specify a particular 802.* or similar standard they use for the "mesh" feature?  Eg 802.11s (https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wifi/mesh/80211s)?

Title: Re: Mesh WiFi node auto setup: what's being sent?
Post by: eti on July 12, 2020, 05:30:55 pm

"Wireshark" capture added to OP.