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Francesco Demarcus : 2 December 2025 10:26
In today’s environment, securing a network requires much more than setting a complex password. A cyber attack against a wireless network follows a structured path that evolves from passive monitoring to active traffic manipulation. .
We will analyze this process in three distinct phases: gaining access, post-connection maneuvers, and the necessary defensive countermeasures. .
Penetration testing of a wireless network begins by analyzing its attack surface: visible identifiers are observed and weak or insecure configurations are evaluated. .
The first step is to use tools in “monitor” mode to collect detailed information about active access points (APs) and clients. By enabling the wireless interface in this mode and running the following command, the analyst scans each channel of the network. :
airodump-ng wlan0mon
This data is essential for selecting the target. Weak signs include an easily recognizable SSID, a low number of clients, or the lack of WPA3. Once the target is identified, a targeted scan is performed to increase accuracy with the command:
airodump-ng -c --bssid -w wlan0monTo gain full access on WPA/WPA2 networks, you need to capture the handshake, which is the exchange of packets that occurs when a client associates with the router. If no spontaneous connections occur, a deauthentication attack is used. .
Using Aireplay-ng , you send packets that temporarily disconnect the victim client :
aireplay-ng –deauth 5 -a -c wlan0mon Upon automatic device reconnection, the handshake is recorded by Airodump and saved to disk in a .cap file.
Once the file is acquired, the attack begins offline. Tools like Aircrack-ng examine each password contained in a wordlist (such as the common rockyou.txt ), combining it with the AP name to generate a Pairwise Master Key (PMK). This process often uses algorithms like PBKDF2 for hashing. .
The typical command is :
aircrack-ng -w rockyou.txt -b handshake.capThe generated PMK is compared with the encrypted handshake data: if they match, the password is revealed. For complex passwords, use tools like Hashcat or John the Ripper , which are optimized for GPU acceleration. .
Once the initial barrier is overcome, the attacker has the ability to interact directly with devices in the local network. The objective now changes: you have to blend in with other devices and collect data without being detected. .
The first post-connection step is to build a network map Tools like Netdiscover run an active ARP scan across the entire subnet to collect IP and MAC addresses. :
netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24
Next, Nmap allows for deep analysis With the nmap -A command, an aggressive scan is performed to identify open ports, service versions, and the target’s operating system, revealing potential vulnerabilities such as outdated software. .
The most powerful offensive strategy at this stage is the Man in the Middle attack, often achieved via ARP Spoofing. The attacker tricks both the client and the gateway by altering their ARP caches, logically positioning himself between the two. .
The manual controls to accomplish this are :
arpspoof -i wlan0 -t (Convince the client that the attacker is the gateway.)arpspoof -i wlan0 -t (Convince the gateway that the attacker is the client.)To automate the process, frameworks like MITMF are used, which integrate DNS spoofing, keylogging and code injection features. An example command is :
mitmf –arp –spoof –gateway –target -i wlan0
The success of an attack depends on the target’s defensive capabilities. There are specific tools to identify anomalous behavior and block threats promptly. .
Wireshark is essential for deep analysis Its interface allows you to identify suspicious patterns such as “ARP storms” . To configure it to detect spoofing :
This option reports irregularities, such as frequent changes in the MAC associated with the same IP . Additionally, the “Expert Information” panel highlights duplicate ARP responses and IP conflicts, clear indicators of an ongoing attack. .
For automated protection, XArp offers two modes: passive (observation) and active (querying). If XArp detects a sudden change in the gateway’s MAC address, it sends a direct probe to validate the IP-MAC association and generates an alert.
To better understand the dynamics, let’s consider an example in a corporate LAN network:
arpspoof , simultaneously impersonating the router (192.168.1.1) and the victim client (192.168.1.100). On Linux: sudo arp -s 192.168.1.1 00:11:22:33:44:55
On Windows: arp -s 192.168.1.1 00-11-22-33-44-55
This operation prevents further overwrites as long as the static entry remains in memory.
In today’s environment, technical countermeasures must not be limited to detection, but rather aim to prevent the attack from being executed at the source. Below, we analyze the main strategies for protecting LAN and WLAN networks.
One of the simplest yet most effective techniques is the manual configuration of static entries. By default, operating systems use dynamic ARP tables that can be manipulated. Manually entering entries (as seen in the previous scenario) prevents any unauthorized changes. It’s important to remember that these configurations must be re-entered at each reboot or automated via scripts.
Routers often use default SSIDs (e.g., “TP-LINK_ABC123”) that reveal the device’s model and known vulnerabilities. Changing the SSID to a generic name (e.g., “net-home42”) reduces exposure. Additionally, disabling SSID broadcast makes the network invisible to unfamiliar devices. While this isn’t a complete solution (the name can be retrieved from beacon frames), it increases the difficulty for inexperienced attackers.
MAC filtering allows access only to devices explicitly authorized in the router’s admin panel. Any other devices are denied. This measure can also be circumvented with MAC spoofing, but it remains an excellent first barrier in networks with a limited number of devices.
Many routers allow remote configuration via Wi-Fi. This exposes the network to the risk of an attacker, once connected, accessing the control panel. It is strongly recommended to disable wireless management, limiting administrative access to wired Ethernet ports only.
Sensitive communications must always take place over encrypted channels to make data interception (sniffing) useless. Key examples include:
Furthermore, the adoption of the WPA3 protocol introduces the SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) system, making the network much more resistant to dictionary attacks than WPA2.
Firmware vulnerabilities are an often overlooked attack vector. It’s essential to periodically check the manufacturer’s website and install security patches. Updating can close backdoors, fix flaws in the WPS protocol, and improve overall stability.
Local network security represents one of the most significant cybersecurity challenges today. As we’ve seen, an attack can begin silently with a scan ( airodump-ng ) and then evolve into active manipulation ( MITM ).
The ease with which a poorly protected network can be breached highlights how undervalued basic techniques still are. At the same time, powerful, free tools like Aircrack-ng , Wireshark , and XArp are available to both attackers and defenders: expertise makes the difference.
In summary, we have seen that:
aircrack-ng -w rockyou.txt ).netdiscover , nmap ).arpspoof , MITMF ).Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time fix, but an adaptive process. Being proactive is the only way to ensure integrity and privacy in an ever-changing technological landscape.
Francesco Demarcus