“SNL” star Chris Redd, the attacker, used a knuckle duster that blackened both eyes

The hacker who made it to “SNL” alum Chris Read had a brass knuckle on his face … and two men were involved in a brazen attack in New York City on Wednesday.

Sources close to Chris tell TMZ that the attack left Chris with two black eyes and a huge gash on his nose that required stitches. After the attack, he was hospitalized and soon released.

As TMZ reported … both men were dressed as security guards and had masks covering their faces. We’re told the assailant who walked up to Chris and clubbed him was a heavyset man … the other man was standing across the street looking like he was covering the area.

We’re told Chris was unable to identify any of the suspects. However, we’re told he’s meeting with police officers who have collected surveillance footage, hoping to get a tip — if not from the images of the two men, then perhaps from their method of escape, whether on foot or in a vehicle.

Surveillance video could be the key to solving the case. Even as the 2 attackers ran away, the cops could gather their movements using various CCTV cameras. You can remember … in Jussie Smollett In this case, the police used surveillance video track down the Osundairo brotherswho fled the scene for several blocks and then got into an Uber.

TMZ broke the story … Chris had his own Greg Yuna the chain is broken in the attack, but he was able to regain the shine, even though he was shattered. It can be easily restored.