Bug 498858

Summary:	Wifi network connection fails on WPA3-WPA2 transition networks on client hardware that does not support WPA3
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	dofficialgman
Component:	Networking in general	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs>
Status:	REPORTED ---
Severity:	normal	CC:	nate
Priority:	NOR
Version:	5.27.11
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Other
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description dofficialgman 2025-01-18 17:40:56 UTC

SUMMARY
Wifi network connection fails on WPA3-WPA2 transition networks on client hardware that does not support WPA3 when connecting via plasma-nm (kde system settings and wifi applet). This bug is confirmed not in NetworkManager itself as attempting to connect via it chooses the correct WPA2 security setting by default on this client hardware that doesn't support WPA3 (SAE).

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Use wifi client hardware that doesn't support SAE cipher
2. Attempt to connect to a WPA3-WPA2 transition network
3. Observe looping failure to connect. Observe in the wifi applet security settings that WPA3 is selected (when it is not supported by the client hardware)

OBSERVED RESULT
Failure to connect due to plasma-nm choosing WPA3 even when NetworkManager doesn't on its own.

EXPECTED RESULT
Let NetworkManager choose the ideal connection which it already does and works.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Ubuntu Noble 24.04
KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.11
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.115.0
Qt Version: 5.15.3

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A manual workaround is to adjust the security settings to WPA2 once the connection fails.