Broadcom Wireless Security Threat

Question

When can we expect a patch for the latest Broadcom Wireless Security threat. I see Linksys jumped on this quickly. Dell needs to presure Broadcom for a patch

NemesisDB · Answer

as far as I know, no. last time I checked the latest release was from 6/2006

of course, if broadcom were a decent and reasonable company they would offer their wireless drivers at their own site like intel does (or like they do for their wired products).

edit: I would strongly recommend trying to force the linksys driver as the article suggests. it should work as these companies usually don't modify the generic drivers that much,

edit2: am going to apply this update to my USR card tonight, given that USR hasn't released a driver for me in around a year ;-)

edit3: I originally meant this post to be in reply to http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_wireless&message.id=28252 , but it's the same topic anyway

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 11-14-200601:03 AM

NemesisDB · Answer

Linksys driver works great on my USR card.  Will probably keep it installed given that the USR driver was based on an early 3.x broadcom realse and given that they show no signs of supporting their product.   Afterburner was set to on by default -- so make sure you disable that if it will be an issue for you. Message Edited by NemesisDB on 11-14-200611:39 AM

sylerner · Answer

I came here looking for a Dell reply to this issue - so far none. For those interested in details of threat and workaround - see http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=365&tag=nl.e589 for details.

rebec09 · Answer

Thank you for the response

Gina Q · Answer

I have been watching this issue and have asked about getting an update. I expect an announcement of a partial solution this week and I'll post it on the main wireless board when it's ready.

YRootberg · Answer

on the affected system, In IE click tools, Windows update. choose custom. Then look under 'hardware,optional items'. Should have listed updated driver for Dell/Broadcom

Davet50 · Answer

one should never dl drivers from the MS update site... only use the manufactor or Dell.....

NemesisDB · Answer

if anyone grabs from the MS site, please post the actual driver number here following the install.  i am lacking any dell TM wireless card at the moment, but I would be interested in a dell package for my USR card when and if a fix becomes available.   and yes, I agree -- use caution with MS driver updates.  it routinely tries to get me to install a very old intel driver and a very old promise raid driver for my system.

jp.kirk · Answer

Broadcom released a fix some time ago. Up to vendors now.

NemesisDB · Answer

though apparently they neglected to attach a security advisory to the 'fixed' reference driver.

NemesisDB · Answer

Please see DELL-Gina's post regarding a fixed driver:   http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_wireless&message.id=28463

VonEsser · Answer

Gina,   It's now been over 3 weeks since your post, with no further status reports. This seems a l-o-n-g time to wait for a security fix, given that Broadcom distributed their generic code to the OEMs some time ago. Can you give us an update or better yet an ETA? Or better yet, a link to the patch!

NemesisDB · Answer

VonEsser,   The fix was distributed a while back. Here's a link to the package:   http://ftp.us.dell.com/network/R140747.EXE   You can either install the whole thing or extract the drivers with a program like 7-zip or winrar and just use those.   edit:  I posted a reference to Gina's message and the fix the day that this came out (see my other message on this thread).  I guess you just missed it. Message Edited by NemesisDB on 12-07-200601:35 PM

Gina Q · Answer

VonEsser,   As NemesisDB said this was posted a while back, but if you have a TM1300 or TM1400 card I have not gotten word on this update as yet. As soon as I know it's available I'll post it too.

NemesisDB · Answer

Granted I've never installed the full package (i've just extracted the drivers and used the update driver process in device manager) but I believe it should work fine.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Broadcom Wireless Security Threat

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