Researcher Quentin Kaiser disclosed a memory-corruption vulnerability in Broadcom’s proprietary Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) implementation that allows attackers within Wi-Fi range to execute code as root and disclose sensitive information without authentication. The flaw, present since at least 2010, affects WPS EAP message reassembly and requires neither a network password, completed WPS enrollment, nor user interaction. Kaiser demonstrated Wi-Fi password extraction from an Orange Belgium ASKEY TCG3000 gateway and a reverse shell carried over Wi-Fi frames on a Proximus Sagemcom F@st/BBOX3V+. He estimated that more than 1.5 million Belgian gateways could be exposed, with potentially millions of affected devices overall. Reporting as of October 19 identified no assigned CVE, deployed fix for the affected routers, or known real-world exploitation.
Broadcom reportedly issued an incomplete fix in 2018 and recommended migration to hostapd, but remediation depends on device architecture and manufacturer support. Older eCos-based gateways reportedly lack a usable fix, while newer Linux-based devices may be remediable through a Wi-Fi software change. Operators should inventory affected gateways, seek model-specific remediation guidance from vendors or ISPs, and plan replacement where supported fixes are unavailable; available detection tools offer only preliminary assessments. Volexity’s separate reporting on a Russian APT’s “Nearest Neighbor” attack underscores the operational relevance of nearby Wi-Fi networks, but the supplied reports establish no connection between that activity and this Broadcom vulnerability.

See affected versions and whether adversaries are exploiting it.
8 events from the most recent confirmed update back to the earliest known activity.
On October 16, Kaiser disclosed the WPS flaw, which allows attackers within Wi-Fi range to execute code as root without authentication, a network password, or pairing. His research demonstrated Wi-Fi password extraction and subsequent network access on an Orange Belgium ASKEY TCG3000, plus a reverse shell transported over Wi-Fi frames on a Proximus Sagemcom BBOX3V+.
Kaiser reported the vulnerabilities to Broadcom in July 2026.
According to Kaiser, Broadcom released an incomplete fix in 2018 without publicly disclosing the vulnerability. Broadcom subsequently advised customers to migrate to hostapd rather than continue relying on its proprietary implementation.
Kaiser traced the vulnerable code in Broadcom’s proprietary wireless implementation to at least 2010. The flaw affects reassembly of fragmented WPS setup messages and enables memory disclosure and arbitrary code execution.
Kaiser's repository lists confirmed affected models from numerous manufacturers, including Cisco, Netgear, TP-Link, Nokia, ZTE and Zyxel, expanding the documented exposure beyond the original demonstrations. Version coverage varies, and some listed devices, including Huawei and Tenda models, lack clear confirmation.
Kaiser released YARA rules to identify vulnerable code in extracted firmware and a script to assess live access points. He cautioned that these tools provide preliminary triage rather than definitive confirmation because patched devices can still match.
CERT/CC closed Kaiser's case after confirming that Broadcom had authority to assign CVEs for its products but did not intend to assign one for this vulnerability.
Broadcom told Kaiser that a patch was available and directed affected manufacturers to contact it directly. According to Kaiser, the company declined to assign a CVE or share its customer-portal notification.
Vulnerabilities, threat actors, malware, products, organizations, and breaches Mallory has linked to this story.
See whether adversaries are exploiting this yet, and where the affected versions run in your environment.
5 references tracked. Mallory keeps watching after this page renders.
thehackernews.com
Open sourcesecurityaffairs.com
Open sourcequentinkaiser.be
Open sourcegithub.com
Open sourcevolexity.com
Open sourceMap indicators from this story to your assets and identify affected systems in minutes.
Every observed campaign, victim, and pivot linked to actors named in this story.
Malware, exploits, and IOCs connected to the activity described here.
YARA, Sigma, and Snort rules deployed to your SIEM as soon as they’re published.
Get matching new stories delivered to your team as they break — not the next morning.
Ask questions about this story and take action on the answers.