Exploring EAPHammer: How Rogue APs Test WPA2-Enterprise Security

 EAPHammer

EAPHammer is a powerful toolkit for conducting targeted "evil twin" attacks against WPA2-Enterprise networks. It is widely used in wireless security assessments and red team engagements. Here's a detailed breakdown:

What is EAPHammer?

EAPHammer is a tool that allows security professionals to simulate attacks on wireless networks, particularly those using WPA2-Enterprise protocols. Its primary focus is on creating rogue access points (APs) to trick users into connecting, enabling credential theft and other exploits.

Key Features

1. Evil Twin Attacks: EAPHammer can create a rogue AP that mimics a legitimate one, tricking users into connecting and exposing their credentials.

2. Credential Harvesting: It can steal RADIUS credentials from WPA-EAP and WPA2-EAP networks.

3. Hostile Portal Attacks: These attacks can steal Active Directory credentials and perform indirect wireless pivots.

4. Captive Portal Attacks: Forces users to connect to a fake portal, often used for phishing credentials.

5. Automated Setup: EAPHammer simplifies the process of setting up attacks, requiring minimal manual configuration.

6. Support for Multiple Protocols: It supports WPA/2-EAP, WPA/2-PSK, and even rogue AP attacks against OWE (Opportunistic Wireless Encryption) networks.

How It Works

1.Certificate Generation: EAPHammer generates the necessary RADIUS certificates for the rogue AP.

2. Rogue AP Setup: It configures a fake AP with the same SSID as the target network.

3. Credential Theft: When users connect to the rogue AP, their credentials are captured.

4. Advanced Attacks: Features like GTC (Generic Token Card) downgrade attacks can force clients to use weaker authentication methods, making it easier to capture plaintext credentials.

Use Cases

• Penetration Testing: Assessing the security of WPA2-Enterprise networks.
• Red Team Operations: Simulating real-world attacks to test an organization's defenses.
• Wireless Security Research: Exploring vulnerabilities in wireless protocols.

Ethical Considerations

EAPHammer is a tool intended for ethical use in authorized security assessments. Misusing it for unauthorized attacks is illegal and unethical.

This is covered in Pentest+.