What is Wireless Network Penetration Testing? [Explained] – Source: securityboulevard.com

Are your wireless networks truly safe from cyber threats? Wireless network penetration testing is critical to answer that question with confidence.

Here’s what you will discover in this guide on wireless pen testing.

• The Importance of Wireless Penetration Testing
• Risks of Wireless Networks
• The Process of Wireless Penetration Testing
• Tools of the Trade
• Methodologies to Follow
• Common Wireless Vulnerabilities
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is wireless network penetration testing?

Wireless network penetration testing, or ‘wireless pen testing,’ is a specialised discipline within the cybersecurity domain focussed on wireless technology and its implementation. It’s a proactive and systematic approach to identifying vulnerabilities in wireless networks—those invisible lifelines that keep our laptops, smartphones, and IoT devices connected and communicative. By simulating cyberattacks, penetration testers assess how well a network can withstand real-world threats, ensuring that the sensitive data traversing the airwaves remains confidential and intact.

💡This Guide is part of our extenstive guide on penetration testing.

Why is it essential to perform a wireless network pen test?

Wireless penetration testing is not a one-time fix; it’s an essential component of a proactive cybersecurity strategy to maintain resilience. Here’s why regular testing is crucial:

• Evolving Threat Landscape: New wireless vulnerabilities and attack techniques emerge constantly. Regular assessments ensure your defences keep pace with the latest threats.
• Dynamic Network Environments: Wireless networks change frequently as devices connect and disconnect, configurations are modified, and new equipment is added. Frequent testing identifies new risks introduced by these changes.
• Demonstrating Due Diligence: Regular testing shows a commitment to security, essential for internal stakeholders and external partners, customers, or regulators.
• Compliance Adherence: Many industries mandate regular security assessments. Regular wireless network pen testing helps organisations meet those compliance requirements and avoid penalties.
• Proactive Risk Mitigation: Uncovering vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them allows for targeted remediation efforts, significantly reducing the risk of breaches and their associated costs regarding data loss, operational disruption, and reputational damage.

Cyphere understands the importance of continuous security assessments. By incorporating wireless penetration testing services into its annual IT health checks, Cyphere helps organisations maintain a vigilant security posture.

What are the risks associated with wireless networks?

Despite their convenience, wireless networks carry risks that could threaten an organisation’s very foundation. Here are some of the key concerns:

• Operational Disruption: Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks can paralyse essential business operations that rely on wireless communication, such as point-of-sale systems and IoT-enabled processes. The resulting downtime can lead to significant revenue loss.
• Compliance Violations: Inadequate wireless security may result in violations of industry regulations like PCI-DSS, NHS DSPT, and HIPAA, leading to severe financial penalties and damage to the business’s credibility.
• Lateral Movement: Once inside the wireless network, attackers can move laterally to access and exploit more sensitive systems, which might otherwise be more secure on wired networks. For example, IT teams often integrate backend infrastructure as a shared backend while providing two different front ends to wireless networks with visitors and staff/corporate networks. Without logical separation between the environments, this bridge adds a significant misconfiguration risk to the host organisation.
• Data Breaches: Sensitive company data such as customer details, financial records, and trade secrets are vulnerable to theft over insecure wireless networks. The consequences of such breaches include reputational harm, regulatory fines, and a loss of customer trust.
• Intellectual Property Theft: Attackers may target a company’s intellectual property, including R&D data and product designs, which can lead to considerable financial damage and erosion of competitive edge.

How Wireless Pen Tests are performed?

Wireless penetration tests are not uniform; they are customised, comprehensive operations to examine a network’s defences at all levels. The extensive wireless penetration testing methodology involves steps that mimic potential intruders’ actions, from scanning wireless traffic to exploiting identified vulnerabilities.

The goal is to paint a complete picture of the wireless network’s security posture, ensuring every device is scrutinised for weaknesses. A preliminary step in this process involves testers simulating the actions of potential intruders by establishing wireless network connections, which is crucial for assessing the network’s vulnerability to unauthorised access.

Employing appropriate methodologies and tools, testers pave the way for focused, efficient testing that uncovers flaws and contributes to building a more robust and resilient wireless network.

1. Planning & Scoping

Before initiating a wireless pen test, it is vital to undergo a phase of planning and scoping. This stage sets the foundation for the entire test and involves:

• Collaboration with the client to understand their specific concerns
• Identifying the critical assets that need security measures
• Determining any regulatory requirements that must be met

The scope of the test is then determined, clearly defining which networks, devices, and frequency bands will be included in the assessment. Finally, rules of engagement are established, setting clear boundaries on the actions permissible during the test to avoid unintended disruptions.

2. Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance represents the phase of data collection in a wireless pen test. Testers employ passive and active techniques to identify wireless networks belonging to the customer and collect crucial information about the target network. They might quietly listen for wireless signals with tools like Kismet or actively send probe requests to enumerate details from access points.

Wardriving—or war walking—is another tactic used to map the coverage of a network, seeking out not just the legitimate access points but also any rogue ones that could pose a threat. This phase is akin to a digital stakeout, laying the groundwork for the following steps.

3. Vulnerability Identification

In identifying vulnerabilities, testers convert their gathered data into usable intelligence. They scrutinise the network for:

• encryption weaknesses, such as outdated WEP or vulnerable WPA/WPA2 protocols
• devices with default or insecure settings that could be easily exploited
• Rogue access points
• client misconfigurations

These vulnerabilities can provide malicious hackers with a backdoor into the network.

This stage connects the dots between the gathered information and potential attack vectors, highlighting areas where the network’s armour is thinnest regarding network traffic.

4. Exploitation

Exploitation marks the critical juncture in wireless penetration testing. It’s the stage where testers apply their skills to crack encryption and execute SAE exploitation and associated attacks. Techniques like KRACK can exploit handshake messages, while pre-computed hash tables aid in speeding up encryption cracking.

This phase is crucial as it illustrates how an attacker could gain unauthorised access to the network and the potential damage they could inflict.

5. Post-Exploitation

Post-exploitation explores the possible actions an attacker might undertake after breaching the network. Testers simulate lateral movement to explore how far an attacker could penetrate the wireless infrastructure. They also test the possibility of data exfiltration, including:

• Whether sensitive information can be siphoned off from compromised systems
• How easily an attacker can access and manipulate data
• Whether the attacker can escalate privileges and gain control over critical systems

This stage is about understanding a breach’s full impact and ongoing risks.

6. Reporting

Reporting is the concluding step once testers have finished the wireless pen test. This document is a comprehensive summary that includes:

• The process and methodology used during the test
• The results of the test, including any weaknesses discovered
• The techniques used in the exploitation
• Recommendations for remediation and strengthening network defences

A well-prepared penetration testing report should:

• Recount the test
• Provide valuable insights
• Serve as a roadmap for future security strategies
• Ensure that the lessons learned translate into more robust defences.

Wireless penetration testing methodologies to follow

Several wireless penetration testing methodologies exist, including vendor-specific ones where solutions exist in the market. Here is an overview of these four methodologies:

NIST SP 800-115 – Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment

The NIST SP 800-115 methodology is a tried-and-true framework backed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It provides a structured approach to the penetration testing process that includes:

• Planning
• Discovery
• Risk assessment
• Remediation guidance

This thoroughness ensures that every facet of wireless security is considered, and the focus on compliance with regulatory standards makes it a go-to choice for organisations needing to meet specific industry requirements.

OSSTMM (Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual)

In contrast, the OSSTMM offers a holistic approach to security testing, expanding beyond the technical to consider operational and human factors. It emphasises quantifiable metrics, allowing organisations to track their security improvements over time and objectively evaluate their defences.

For those looking to understand the broader security posture, including wireless components, OSSTMM might be the methodology of choice.

PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard)

The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) is particularly suited for practitioners. It provides technical guidelines across seven phases, from intelligence gathering to reporting.

While PTES is not exclusively wireless-focused, it offers valuable techniques that can be adapted for wireless network testing. It is an excellent resource for teams seeking a hands-on, practitioner-oriented approach.

Vendor-specific methodologies

Vendor-specific methodologies offer a different angle, with a focus often tailored to the vendors’ technology stacks. They can be cutting-edge, reflecting the latest attacks and mitigation strategies. However, it’s essential to approach these methodologies with a critical eye, as they may introduce biases that could skew results.

How do you choose the correct methodology?

Ultimately, selecting the proper methodology hinges on several factors, including the scope of the test, regulatory requirements, and the in-house expertise available. Some organisations might benefit from the structured approach of NIST SP 800-115, while others might find the depth of PTES more beneficial.

The key is to evaluate the unique needs of the organisation and the wireless assessment to make an informed decision that will lead to the most effective testing outcome.

The Arsenal: Tools for Wireless Pen Testing

The success of a wireless network penetration test often hinges on the tools used. These tools, among others, form the arsenal that security consultants rely on to dissect wireless networks and unearth vulnerabilities.

Wireless Network Mapping and Analysis

• Kismet: This powerful wireless network detector, sniffer, and intrusion detection system (IDS) excels at passive and active scanning. It identifies SSIDs, reveals hidden networks, and captures traffic for analysis.
• NetStumbler: A popular Windows-based tool focused on war driving—identifying wireless signal strength, coverage areas, and potential interference sources for mapping network footprints.

Encryption Cracking and Exploitation

• Aircrack-ng: The cornerstone in a wireless pen tester’s toolkit. This comprehensive suite analyses captured packets to crack WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryption, exposing weak keys and vulnerabilities.
• Reaver: Designed for brute-force attacks targeting WPS (Wi-FI Protected Setup) on vulnerable wireless routers, enabling the recovery of the network’s passphrase.

Advanced Attacks and Simulation

• Wireshark: The industry-standard network protocol analyser offers deep inspection of wireless packets or wifi networks. Security professionals use it to dissect traffic, identify anomalies, identify weak encryption protocols and troubleshoot attacks.
• Bettercap: Facilitates a variety of man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks against wireless networks, including de-authentication, rogue access point creation, and traffic interception.
• Wifiphisher: Automates creating realistic-looking phishing pages to trick users into surrendering their wireless credentials.

💡Important Note: Wireless penetration testing tools can be used for ethical and malicious purposes. These tools must be used responsibly and only with the explicit authorisation of the network owner.

Common Wireless Network Vulnerabilities

Due to their reliance on signal broadcasting, wireless networks possess inherent risk profiles distinct from wired networks. Penetration testers focus on exploiting these common vulnerabilities:

• Weak Encryption and Authentication:

  • Outdated encryption protocols (WEP, WPA with TKIP) are susceptible to cracking, allowing for password recovery and unauthorised network access.
  • Default or easily guessed passwords on wifi access points provide an easy entry point for intruders.

• Misconfigured Devices:

  • Wifi access points with default settings, such as unchanged administrator credentials, insufficient network access controls and open management ports, expose networks to attacks.
  • Devices with insecure client configurations (e.g., automatically connecting to unknown networks) can be exploited on the user side.

• Rogue Access Points:

  • Unauthorised wifi networks and finding access points, intentionally malicious or set up by well-meaning but uninformed employees, offer a backdoor into the network and bypass network security.
  • Monitoring and identifying rogue devices in the organisation environment is a vital function of a holistic approach to secure wireless network connections. This is due to insufficient security measures such as MAC filtering.

• Social Engineering Attacks:

  • “Evil twin” networks mimicking legitimate SSIDs trick users into connecting, allowing attackers to intercept traffic or distribute malware.
  • Phishing attacks targeting wireless credentials further compromise security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary goal of wireless network penetration testing?

The main goal of wireless network penetration testing is to identify and address vulnerabilities within wireless networks to strengthen the overall security posture of an organisation. This helps prevent data breaches, maintain business continuity, and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

How often should wireless penetration tests be conducted?

Wireless penetration tests should ideally be conducted every quarter or after any significant changes to the network infrastructure to keep up with security threats.

Can wireless pen testing disrupt day-to-day operations?

Yes, wireless pen testing can disrupt day-to-day operations to some extent, but clear rules of engagement are established to minimise the impact and ensure smooth business operations.

Are there specific tools used for wireless penetration testing?

Essential tools for wifi penetration testing include Kismet, Wireshark, Aircrack-ng, and Hashcat, which are used to identify security vulnerabilities and analyse network traffic.

What factors influence the choice of wireless penetration testing methodology?

When selecting a wireless penetration testing methodology, consider factors such as the scope of the test, regulatory requirements, in-house expertise, and the organisation’s specific security needs. Additionally, methodologies like NIST SP 800-115, OSSTMM, and PTES offer unique benefits.

How much does it cost to perform wireless penetration testing?

Wireless penetration testing services cost anywhere from £2500-£7500 for mid-size organisations. For large organisations, the required scope and frequency of assessments depend upon the scope and frequency of evaluations.