Before diving into the topic “How one can break the network security” we need to understand some of the tools and techniques used by malicious actors to break into the network or compromise its security:
- Kali Linux: Kali Linux is a popular operating system among hackers because it includes a comprehensive set of over 600 pre-installed security tools for identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in network systems and applications. It is highly customizable and can be easily configured to meet the specific needs of security professionals or organisations. The user-friendly interface and extensive documentation make it accessible to both novice and experienced users. Kali Linux is widely used for penetration testing, network security assessments, and digital forensics.
- Ettercap: Ettercap is a versatile tool used for Man-in-the-Middle attacks that intercepts and manipulates network traffic to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in network systems and applications. It performs various attacks, including ARP poisoning, DNS spoofing, and packet sniffing, and can gather sensitive information. The tool is highly configurable and has advanced features, making it a powerful tool for security assessments and malicious activities. However, it must be used responsibly and ethically within legal guidelines.
- Wireshark: Wireshark is an open-source network protocol analyzer that allows security professionals to monitor and analyse network traffic by capturing, filtering, and analysing network packets in real-time. It provides detailed information about network packets and supports a wide range of protocols on various operating systems. Wireshark helps identify network issues, detect security threats, and optimise network performance, making it a versatile tool for network analysis. With a user-friendly interface and extensive documentation, it is accessible to both novice and experienced users and is widely considered as one of the most powerful network analysis tools available.
- WiFi Adapters: WiFi adapters are used in network attacks to intercept and manipulate wireless network traffic. They can operate in “monitor mode” to capture all network packets, and some adapters can inject packets for attacks like MITM and deauthentication attacks. Security professionals use these adapters to evaluate wireless network security and identify weaknesses. When choosing an adapter for attacks, compatibility with operating systems, supported protocols, range, and performance should be considered.
- Fluxion: Fluxion is an open-source tool for Wi-Fi network penetration testing that simulates attacks like phishing and MITM. It captures and analyses network traffic to identify and exploit vulnerabilities, and can automate the process of cracking Wi-Fi passwords. It has a user-friendly interface and provides detailed reports. However, Fluxion should only be used ethically and legally. Network security professionals use tools like Fluxion to identify weaknesses and secure their networks.
Phase I (Reconnaissance):
Reconnaissance for wireless networks is a crucial initial phase in assessing their security. It involves gathering information and understanding the target network’s characteristics and vulnerabilities. This process often begins with passive scanning, where the focus is on observing nearby wireless networks, their signal strengths, encryption methods, and network names (SSIDs). Active scanning follows, aiming to capture more detailed information, such as the devices connected to the network, their MAC addresses, and the data packets being transmitted. This reconnaissance phase provides valuable insights that help in identifying potential weaknesses and planning subsequent steps in assessing and securing the wireless network.
Phase II (Breaking into someone’s wifi):
In order to attack someone’s network you must be connected to their network. So in phase II one should crack the wifi password and get connected to their network. So there are many methods to do but most famous attacks are:
- Deauthentication attack: A Wi-Fi Deauthentication attack disconnects a target device from a wireless network by sending deauthentication frames to the target device and access point, allowing for MITM attacks. They can disrupt wireless networks or be used in more advanced attacks. They are simple to carry out using readily available software tools and pose a common threat to wireless network security. Attackers can also capture handshakes to crack wifi passwords.
The above attack might take long time if an organisation is using a strong password so to ease the simplest way would be the below method
- Evil Twin Attack: An Evil Twin attack is a MITM attack that creates a fake wireless access point with the same name as a legitimate one to trick victims into connecting. The attacker can intercept and manipulate network traffic, potentially stealing sensitive information. It can be carried out using specialised software and hardware and exploits users’ trust in familiar networks, making it hard to detect. Fluxion and other tools can be used for this attack.
So by now if we are successfully connected to their network, now we can continue on to the next phase
Phase III (Analyse the traffic)
Analysing network traffic is a crucial step in launching a successful attack. By capturing and analysing network packets, an attacker can gather valuable information about a target network, identify vulnerabilities, and craft custom payloads to exploit them. Network traffic analysis helps to identify weak encryption methods and discover user credentials transmitted in cleartext. It also helps to assess the effectiveness of attacks and make modifications as needed. Network traffic analysis is essential for attackers and is widely used in network security. Wireshark is a commonly used tool for packet analysis.
Once we have analysed the traffic we can deploy various types of attacks on the network to get sensitive information for an organisation. Some attacks are discussed in phase III
Phase IV (Attacks)
- ARP Poisoning: ARP poisoning is a MITM attack that manipulates the ARP cache on a target network, allowing the attacker to intercept and manipulate network traffic. Ettercap is an open-source tool commonly used for conducting ARP poisoning attacks due to its ability to automate the process and support for various types of MITM attacks.
- DNS Spoofing: DNS Spoofing using Ettercap is a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack that intercepts and modifies Domain Name System (DNS) queries. Ettercap is an open-source tool used for conducting these attacks, which redirect target devices to a fake or malicious website by intercepting and modifying DNS queries. This allows attackers to capture sensitive information and launch phishing attacks.
- Packet Sniffing: Packet sniffing is a method of capturing and analysing network packets, and Ettercap is a tool used for conducting this activity. By capturing and analysing network packets, an attacker can gather valuable information about a target network, which can be used to identify vulnerabilities, determine the best course of action, and craft custom payloads to exploit these vulnerabilities. However, packet sniffing can also be used for malicious purposes, such as stealing sensitive information or launching Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks.
- Infect The Traffic With Malware: Infecting network traffic with malware using Ettercap is a Man-in-the-Middle attack that intercepts and manipulates network packets to deliver malware to target devices. This can compromise sensitive information stored on these devices. Ettercap is a popular open-source tool used to conduct this type of attack and can also be used for other types of attacks such as phishing and packet sniffing.
- Deleting Traffic: Deleting network traffic using Ettercap is a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack that involves intercepting and modifying network packets to delete or drop data transmitted over a network. This type of attack can cause significant damage to an organisation by resulting in the loss of important data. Ettercap is a popular open-source tool used for conducting this type of attack, as well as other types of attacks such as phishing and packet sniffing.
- Sniffing Credentials: Ettercap can be used for sniffing credentials in a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack. The attacker intercepts and captures network traffic, including login credentials, as they are transmitted over a network. This can compromise sensitive information and privacy. Ettercap can also be used for other attacks, such as phishing and packet sniffing.
- Provide Fake Certificate For HTTPS: Ettercap can conduct a MITM attack by intercepting and modifying network traffic to present fake certificates to target devices. This can compromise the security of sensitive information transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections, such as login credentials and financial data. This attack can trick users into communicating with a fake website, allowing the attacker to steal their information.
Note: These are few attacks that one can perform on network but there are n number of attacks on network using different tools (here we have discussed about ettercap)
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