MAC Spoofing is a type of attack used to exploit flaws in the authentication mechanism implemented by wired and wireless networking hardware. In layman’s terms, MAC spoofing is when someone or something intercepts, manipulate or otherwise tampers with the control messages exchanged between a networked device and its unique MAC address. This can be accomplished through a variety of means, such as modifying the hardware itself with an inline switch to forward messages from one MAC address to another, spoofing the identity of that device by forwarding messages from an innocent bystander’s device (a “spoofing victim”), tampering with messages sent from legitimate access points, or capturing packets that contain response data that is ultimately manipulated before it reaches its destination.
Details:
MAC spoofing is most commonly known as the method of attack used in Wireless Network Hacking. MAC spoofing is commonly used to break into wireless networks and steal wireless network credentials. It can also be used to install an unauthorized access point or simulate an access point with a packet sniffer from within the same operating system and without being on the same network segment.
MAC spoofing is often considered one of the oldest attacks acknowledged by defined security protocols. See RFC 1072 for an example of one such protocol (the Counterfeit Access Point Protocol). More recently, some notable attacks have been discovered that utilize MAC Spoofing.
A commonly known attack method is the use of an unauthorized access point to capture user credentials. If a user, for instance, decides to share a network resource with another user and does not know that it has been compromised in some way, then this is an example of how a MAC spoofing attack can be used to make it difficult for the non-malicious party to log on and share resources over that network. All they need to do is create an unauthorized access point of their own with the same MAC address as that of another’s. When that client tries to log in, the unauthorized access point will redirect the authentication query from the user’s device and vice versa.
Another example of a MAC spoofing attack is when attackers create unauthorized access points with the same MAC (media access control) address as that of a legitimate access point. This can be done using any of the aforementioned means. When an unsuspecting user connects to one of these unauthorized access points, by mistake, their device will send an authentication request as if it came from the actual access point’s unique MAC address, thereby gaining control over that device and being able or disguising itself as a legitimate access point.
Key Points:
- MAC spoofing is often considered to be a very old attack and can be used to implement many payloads.
- MAC spoofing can also be used to create an unauthorized access point and make it appear as if it were a legitimate access point.
- Also known as “Broadcast Spoofing,” this type of attack requires the attacker to physically be within range of the target network, or otherwise have physical access to it, in order for this type of attack to take place. A good example of a type of Broadcast Spoofing Attack is a brute force attack, where an attacker continuously tries multiple combinations until they find one that provides them with access.
Countermeasures:
- The most obvious way to prevent this type of attack is to make sure the network is not accessible through any unnecessary ports (i.e., disable unused services and ports). This will help prevent brute-force attacks from being carried out.
- Firewalls are also useful in aiding security defenses for a network by allowing more control over the types of data that can be sent across a network and can also help to prevent brute-force attacks from taking place if there is no open network port available for anonymous access.
- Use a stronger authentication method: The more secure the authentication method, the harder it will be to carry out a successful attack. Using stronger authentication methods such as two-factor authentication can help prevent broadcast spoofing.
- Bluetooth is one of the most popular technologies used for personal and enterprise connectivity today, but it doesn’t provide protection against malicious MAC commands or Broadcast Spoofing attacks.
- Attackers can obtain Bluetooth device information such as the name, vendor and product identifiers, MAC addresses, etc. due to this reason you have to be very careful while using this technology because these details can be easily used by attackers in order to create an unauthorized wireless router, etc.
Conclusion:
MAC spoofing is a technique that can be used to fool the operating system into believing it has received an ARP request from another machine. This allows the attacker to gain access to a victim’s network without being detected. The attacker sends out a broadcast ARP request, which tells all other devices on the same network what IP address they should use when sending packets. The victim receives this packet and responds with its own IP address (the one associated with its physical NIC).
