Mastering Deauthentication Attacks with airrelay-ng

Introduction to Deauthentication Attacks

An attack type called a Deauth attack, or deauthentication assault, aims to break the connection between a target device and a Wi-Fi network. These attacks transmit specially constructed deauthentication packets to the target device in order to take advantage of a flaw in the Wi-Fi protocol. Upon receiving these packets, a device attempts to reconnect, believing that it is being detached from the network. As a result, network services are disrupted, which prevents the impacted device from connecting to the network.

Understanding Deauthentication Attacks

Deauthentication attacks, sometimes referred to as Deauth attacks, are a form of wireless attack targeting Wi-Fi networks. They exploit a vulnerability inherent in the IEEE 802.11 standard, which is the foundation of Wi-Fi communication. This vulnerability allows an attacker to send specially crafted deauthentication packets to the target devices within the network. When a device receives these deauthentication packets, it interprets them as legitimate commands from the access point and proceeds to disconnect from the network.

Key points to consider in understanding deauthentication attack with airrelay-ng:

1. Wireless Communication Protocol:
   Deauthentication attacks focus on wireless communication, making them particularly relevant in environments using Wi-Fi networks. The primary focus is on the IEEE 802.11 standard, which governs the behavior of Wi-Fi networks.

2. Deauthentication Packets:
   At the core of a deauthentication attack are deauthentication packets. These are control frames that contain instructions to disconnect a specific device from the network. These packets can be sent by an attacker to the target device without the need for encryption keys or authentication credentials.

3. Denial of Service:
   Deauthentication attacks lead to a form of denial of service. When a device receives a deauthentication packet, it disconnects from the network, making it temporarily or completely inaccessible for network services. This can disrupt productivity and inconvenience users.

4. Motivations:
   Deauthentication attacks can serve various purposes. They are employed by network administrators to test network security and response to disruptions. On the other hand, they can also be used for malicious intents, such as causing chaos, gathering information, or facilitating more extensive intrusion into the network.

Motivations for Deauthentication Attacks

Deauthentication attacks can be carried out for a variety of motivations, both legitimate and malicious. Some of the primary motivations include:

1. Network Testing:
   IT professionals and security experts may use deauthentication attacks to assess the security posture of a network. By testing how the network responds to disruptions, they can identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that need to be addressed.

2. Privacy Concerns:
   Individuals may employ deauthentication attacks on their personal networks to disconnect unauthorized devices. This is often done to protect the privacy of their network and ensure that only authorized users are connected.

3. Security Audits:
   Security audits and assessments often involve simulating real-world attacks, including deauthentication attacks. By executing such tests, organizations can gauge their network's resilience to potential threats and take appropriate measures to enhance security.

4. Malicious Intent:
   Unfortunately, some individuals with malicious intent may use deauthentication attacks to disrupt networks, gather sensitive information, or create opportunities for further cyberattacks. These attacks can lead to significant damage and data breaches.

Setting Up the Environment

Setting up a controlled environment is necessary before you can use deauthentication attack with airrelay-ng to undertake a deauthentication attack. Make sure you have permission to run these tests on the target network, and make responsible use of the information you learn.

• Hardware:
  A suitable Wi-Fi adapter with packet injection and monitor mode is required. The TP-Link TL-WN722N, Alfa AWUS036NH, and more sophisticated options like Alfa AWUS036ACH are popular choices.

• Operating System:
  Kali Linux's extensive collection of network security features makes it a great option. Make that Kali Linux is up to date.

Installing and Configuring airrelay-ng

• Installation:
  Open a terminal in Kali Linux and install the Aircrack-ng suite if it's not already installed:

• airrelay-ng:
  airrelay-ng is a part of the Aircrack-ng suite and is used to automate deauthentication attacks.

  To run airrelay-ng, open a terminal and type:

This will start airrelay-ng and present you with various options to configure your deauthentication attack.

Ensuring Compatible Network Interfaces

Ensuring that you have compatible network interfaces for conducting deauthentication attack with airrelay-ng is a critical step in the process. Your network interface should support monitor mode and packet injection, which are essential for effectively carrying out these attacks. In this section, we will discuss the steps to ensure your network interface is compatible and properly configured for deauthentication attacks.

• Check Your Network Interface

Before proceeding with a deauthentication attack, it's important to determine the name of your network interface. You can do this by running the following command:

This command will display a list of available network interfaces. Identify your wireless network interface, which is typically named something like "wlan0," "wlan1," or "wlp2s0."

• Put Your Network Interface into Monitor Mode

Monitor mode is essential for capturing and injecting packets during a deauthentication attack. To enable monitor mode, use the following command:

Replace <your_interface_name> with the name of your wireless network interface. After executing this command, airmon-ng will create a new interface with "mon" appended to the original interface name (e.g., "wlan0" becomes "wlan0mon"). This new interface will be in monitor mode.

• Verify Monitor Mode

You can confirm that your network interface is in monitor mode by using the iwconfig command again:

• Test Packet Injection
  Packet injection capability is a crucial feature for deauthentication attacks. You can test if your network interface supports packet injection using the "aireplay-ng" tool from the Aircrack-ng suite. Run the following command to perform the test:

Executing a Deauthentication Attack

Once you have your environment set up, and your Wi-Fi adapter is in monitor mode, you can proceed with the deauthentication attack with airrelay-ng.

1. Run airrelay-ng and choose the target network by specifying the BSSID (the MAC address of the target network):

2. Replace <target_network_SSID> and <target_BSSID> with the SSID and BSSID of the network you want to attack.

3. airrelay-ng will begin sending deauthentication packets to the specified target network. The connected devices on that network will lose their connection, and they may automatically reconnect.

4. Observe the impact of the attack, and use this information to assess the network's security and its ability to handle such disruptions.

It is essential to conduct deauthentication attacks responsibly and only on networks where you have explicit permission. Unauthorized use of deauthentication attacks is illegal and unethical. By ensuring that your network interface is compatible and properly configured, you can carry out deauthentication attacks effectively and responsibly.

Safeguards from Deauthentication Attack with Airrelay-ng

To mitigate the dangers associated with deauthentication attacks, responsible and ethical use is essential. Here are some key steps to mitigate these risks:

• Authorization:
  Always obtain proper authorization before conducting deauthentication attacks. This is crucial to ensure that your actions are legal and ethical. Seek explicit permission from the network owner or administrator.

• Use in Security Assessments:
  Deauthentication attacks should primarily be used for legitimate security assessments and testing. Network administrators and security professionals can use these attacks to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a network's defenses.

• Monitoring and Logging:
  Network administrators should implement monitoring and logging solutions that can detect and record deauthentication attacks. This helps in identifying and responding to such attacks promptly.

• Implement Security Measures:
  Employ security measures, such as intrusion detection systems and encryption, to protect your network from de-authentication attacks. These measures can help mitigate the impact of such attacks.