How to Hack Wi-Fi: Evading an Authentication Proxy Using ICMPTX
In previous Wi-Fi hacking tutorials, I have shown you ways to create an Evil Twin, to DoS a wireless AP, and to crack WEP and WPA2 passwords, but in this tutorial, I will show you something a little bit different.
In many restaurants, hotels, airports, airplanes, and cafes, they have open authentication on the wireless AP, but once you connect to the AP, you are sent to a proxy that asks you for your credentials. This is very common in many commercial establishments around the world. To obtain the necessary credentials, there is usually charge associated with it.
What if you didn't have a credit card, or forgot your credit card, and needed to access the internet? You still may be able to, if the server accepts ICMP (ping) and you are patient.
In addition, imagine a scenario where you need to stealthily retrieve a file, send a message, or retrieve a message, in say, a cyber espionage or cyber warfare situation, while barely leaving a trace of your activity. This may be your method of choice.
Note: This is a more advanced technique, so if you are new to hacking, work on some of the more basic techniques before trying this.
ICMP: The Internet Control Message Protocol
As you know, ICMP is a protocol that is used detect the presence of a active host. We can determine if a host is active (pay attention, newbies) by simply typing:- kali > ping <IPaddress>
If a server accepts ICMP (many won't as a security precaution), you can use ICMP to bypass the need for authentication via the proxy (that webpage that asks you for credentials). Because it is very slow, I don't recommend this for daily use, but in a pinch, this can be a very innovative way to get your email when you don't want to buy access to the service, or—you want to access the web without leaving a trace.
Step 1: Fire Up Kali & Download Icmptx
To begin, let's fire up Kali Linux and download icmptx. Since icmptx is in the Kali repository, all we need to do is:- kali > apt-get install icmptx
Step 2: Getting Help
Next, let's take a look at the help file for icmptx. Simply type:- kali > icmptx
When we downloaded icmptx, it installed a manual page, so let's take a look at it by typing:
- kali > man icmptx
Step 3: Server Side Proxy
The way icmptx works is that you need to set up a proxy/server between you, the client, and the intended target on the web. First, let's set up the proxy/server.To set up the up the proxy/server, the syntax is simple:
- kali > icmptx -s 10.0.0.1
Step 4: Tunneling
Next, we need to set up a tunnel. A tunnel provides a packet transmission and reception place for user-based applications. Since icmptx is a user-based application, we need to set up a tunnel to send and receive packets, in this case, ICMP packets.We can check to see whether our kernel supports tunneling by typing:
- kali > ifconfig tun0
Step 5: IP Forwarding
Next, we need to set up this server to first, ignore ICMP requests and second, forward IP traffic. If we didn't tell the kernel to ignore ICMP requests, it would respond with a echo reply (Type 8), which is the normal response. We don't want that. We want the ICMP traffic to enter the server and pass right through it.We can tell the kernel to ignore ICMP traffic by typing:
- kali > exho 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/icmp_echo_ignore_all
- kali > echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
Step 6: Set Up the Client
Now, let's set up our client. This is the system we will be using to access the Internet from. We need to install icmptx on this system as well, but here we will be using the client and not the server setup.To do so, type:
- kali > icmptx -c <IP address of the proxy/server>
Although using icmptx is probably not a practical means of accessing the web on a daily basis, in a pinch or under severely clandestine circumstances, it will get you past web-based authentication and leave almost no trail. Few, if any, security administrators will be looking for ICMP traffic to trace your activities and, since you did not have to authenticate, your trail is almost invisible. In addition, if you set up the server on a zombie system, the only trail will lead back to the server/zombie without a highly skilled forensic investigation.
For more ways to hack wireless networks, make sure to check out my Wi-Fi Hacking series of guides and, as always, stayed tuned to Crack My Wifi for more hacking fun.
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