Penetration Testing

1. The Man-in-the-Middle Attack (MITM)

A MITM attack is when a malicious actor positions themselves between a user and a system to intercept or alter communications. This is often done by spoofing the router or DNS responses.

2. How the MITM Attack Works

The attacker manipulates ARP responses to trick the victim's device into thinking the attacker is the router. This gives the attacker the ability to view or manipulate traffic.

3. Tools Used in MITM Attacks

• Bettercap: Powerful MITM framework supporting spoofing, sniffing, and injection.
• Ettercap: Another tool for ARP spoofing and traffic monitoring.
• Wireshark: Packet analysis tool for inspecting intercepted data.

4. How to Protect Against MITM

• Use HTTPS and HSTS to ensure encrypted connections.
• Employ VPNs when using untrusted networks.
• Monitor for ARP spoofing using tools like ARPwatch.
• Utilize intrusion detection systems (IDS) to detect anomalies.

Conclusion

Understanding MITM attacks is essential for penetration testers. Ethical hackers must not only test for such vulnerabilities but also recommend protections.