🔍 Search
📥 Subscribe
ARP Poisoning Attack
Table of Contents
This ethical hacking guide explains ARP spoofing. It covers how ARP spoofing attacks work. It also describes types of ARP poisoning attacks and how to prevent them in cyber security.
What is ARP Spoofing?
ARP spoofing, or ARP poisoning, is a type of cyber attack. This causes ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to associate the spoofed MAC address with the real IP address.
This false association can lead to various forms of network attacks, primarily MITM (man-in-the-middle) attacks.
Understanding ARP
The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is an important protocol used in local area networks (LANs). It helps map IP addresses to MAC (Media Access Control) addresses. Each device on a network has a unique MAC address that facilitates hardware communication.
ARP's primary function is to resolve the IP address of a device into its corresponding MAC address.
ARP Spoofing Techniques
Techniques used in ARP poisoning attacks include:
- ARP Cache Poisoning
- Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
- ARP Proxy Spoofing
- Dynamic ARP Spoofing
How does an ARP Spoofing Attack Work?
In an ARP spoofing attack, the attacker sends fake ARP responses to devices on the network. This links their MAC address to a real IP address. By doing this, they confuse devices on the network. This causes traffic to go to the attacker's system instead of the right recipient.
The attack usually involves the following steps:
Step-1: Discovery
The attacker scans the local network to identify potential targets, such as devices or routers, by sending ARP requests. This allows them to gather information about the IP-MAC address mappings of the devices on the network.
Step-2: ARP Cache Poisoning
The attacker sends falsified ARP messages onto the network, claiming to be another device. They associate their own MAC address with the IP address of the target device in the ARP tables of other devices on the network. This can be achieved by sending ARP replies with spoofed source IP and MAC addresses.
Step-3: ARP Table Modification
As the falsified ARP messages propagate through the network, devices update their ARP tables with the manipulated mappings. This causes legitimate devices to send network traffic intended for the target device to the attacker's MAC address instead.
Step-4: Intercepting or Modifying Traffic
With the ARP cache poisoned, the attacker can intercept or change the network traffic between real devices. This allows them to do harmful things. They can listen in on sensitive data, send bad packets, or change the communication content.
Step-5: Stealth and Persistence
To maintain their control over the network, attackers may employ stealth techniques to avoid detection. This can include sending fake ARP messages again and again. This helps keep their mappings active in the ARP tables of the targeted devices.
Prevention and Mitigation
Various countermeasures and best practices can be employed to prevent ARP spoofing attacks. Some effective mitigation strategies include:
1. Use Static ARP Entries
Manually configure static ARP entries on critical devices, ensuring that IP-MAC address mappings are not easily manipulated.
2. ARP Spoofing Detection Software
Deploy dedicated tools and software that can detect and respond to ARP spoofing attacks in real-time. These tools can automatically take action to mitigate the impact of spoofed entries.
3. ARP Cache Timeouts
Configure short ARP cache timeouts on network devices. When entries in the ARP cache expire quickly, it limits the effectiveness of spoofed entries.
4. Network Segmentation
Segment the network into smaller, isolated subnetworks. This reduces the scope of an ARP attack, as attackers cannot easily target devices in other segments.
5. Encryption
Implement encryption protocols, such as HTTPS for web traffic, to protect data from being intercepted and manipulated during transit.
6. MAC Address Filtering
Restrict the devices that can communicate with a given network. You can reduce the likelihood of ARP spoofing attacks by controlling which devices are allowed to connect.