What is an ARP Spoofing Attack?

ARP spoofing, is a cyber attack in which the attacker can eavesdrop on data communication between two connected devices . With this, many risks are involved, given that this attack can be used to steal sensitive information, including passwords and credit card numbers. It can also serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, such as man-in-the-middle and denial-of-service attacks.

Table of Contents:

• What is ARP Spoofing (ARP Poisoning)
• Address Resolution Protocol
• ARP Spoofing Attack
• Types of ARP Spoofing
• ARP Spoofing Prevention
• How to Detect an ARP Cache Poisoning Attack

Definition

ARP Spoofing is one of the methods of attack that hackers use on a Local Area Network. It involves sending false ARP messages that associate an attacker’s MAC address with another host’s IP address. In doing this, all data meant for that IP will be broadcast to the attacker instead of the original receiver; hence, hackers can intercept, read, and manipulate data under Transmission. The attack is likely to leak crucial information, which includes user credentials, financial information, and the privacy of personal communication. To this end, experts have referred to it as being quite malicious to network security for users and organizations alike.

What is ARP Spoofing (ARP Poisoning)?

It is a man-in-the-middle attack in which the attacker can get ahead due to flaws in the ARP protocol . This protocol is used to solve Internet Protocol addresses into MAC addresses required for communication at their datalink layer. When an IP datagram is sent from the source host to the target host on the same LAN, the IP destination address must be resolved to a MAC address to transmit the information via the data link layer. With ARP spoofing, hacking course , hackers  can eavesdrop on communications, alter traffic, or stop all communication between the devices in the network.

Address resolution Protocol (ARP)

The Address Resolution Protocol involves determining the device’s MAC address from the provided IP address. In the OSI model, the Address Resolution Protocol falls under the essential protocols of the network layer. ARP involves mapping IP addresses to MAC addresses that are later used during communication of the data link layer. When an IP datagram is forwarded from one source to another destination within a local area network, the destination IP address must be resolved to a MAC address for transmission via the data link layer. ARP is a stateless protocol. Network hosts will naturally cache any ARP replies they receive, whether they actively ask for them or not. It is this behavior that poses the vulnerability used by ARP spoofing.

ARP Spoofing Attack

An ARP spoofing attack is a method to issue falsified ARP messages over a Local Area Network. It makes the intended victims link the associate IP addresses with the wrong MAC addresses. Messages are crafted to deceive a target’s device into associating the attacker’s MAC address with the IP address of another host on the network, such as the default gateway. Once the attacker has correctly paired his MAC address to the IP address. He has created a backdoor to hijack or eavesdrop on data communications between two devices on the network. The attacker can use ARP spoofing for spying on communications, modifying traffic, or launching a DoS through traffic overload. where all traffic goes to the same destination due to the continuous replies of the same IP address.

Types of ARP Spoofing

There are several kinds of ARP spoofing attacks:

• Man-in-the-Middle Attack: An attacker interjects between devices connected to the network. Through which he can read the data and also modify it before forwarding it to the destination machine. This allows him to steal sensitive data or change it on its own.
• Session Hijacking: A hacker accesses the user’s session without permission by intercepting and changing the session ID. This way, the attacker can carry on the victim’s session through their private data.
• DOS Attack: The attacker overloads the victim with considerable amount of ARP packets. mapping the MAC address of the victim to several IP addresses. This method would redirect all traffic to the victim, causing a network jam and denying legitimate users access.

Besides the mentioned attacks, several other severe threats to the network security have been identified, which apply their exploitations in various ways. For example,

• Phishing Attacks: A hacker sends an email or message to users with the aim of eliciting sensitive information like username password or credit card details.
• SQL Injection: Malicious SQL code is injected in the input fields of a vulnerable website, thus providing access to a website’s database for attackers. This may lead to unauthorized access, data loss, or even corruption.
• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): A malicious attacker injects scripts into web pages other users are accessing. Such scripts may steal the session cookies, redirect to a malicious website, or deface a website.
• Ransomware: Malware that encrypts the user’s files and subsequently demands some form of payment, supposedly for its decryption. It spreads through phishing emails, malicious attachments, or infected websites.
• Social Engineering: A process of psychologically manipulating individuals to give out sensitive information. It can be done through impersonation, pretexting, or even baiting.
• Botnet Attacks: A malware infects different computers, and a command and control server controls this network of bots. The possible uses for these botnets can be some attacks on DDoS, spam email campaigns, more data theft, etc.
• Insider Threats: The threat concerns actions that authorized users can perform against an organization, such as stealing data, causing intentional damage or leaking confidential information.
• Zero-Day Exploits: In this case, attackers use a vulnerability present in the software but is unknown to the vendor and for which no patch has been built. This helps them exploit systems even before defenses have been put in place.

ARP Spoofing Prevention

The following measures outline some of the steps that could be considered in preventing ARP spoofing attacks:

• Cryptographic network protocols: Implementing some form of encrypted communication protocols. such as Transport Layer Security, HTTP Secure, and Secure Shell, can minimize the possibility of an ARP spoofing attack.
• Implementing packet filters can prevent the network from maliciously sent packets and even from suspicious IP addresses. This would be setup based on the rules of blocking or allowing certain traffic.
• VPN—all loggings will now add extra protection because the VPN encrypts all traffic. From the user’s device to the VPN server so no attacker can decipher/modify data.
• ARP Spoofing Detection Software: An attack due to ARP spoofing can be detected using specific software. That incorporates ARP Spoofing Detection. These tools will verify and validate data before relaying it. The tools alert the network administrator about threats, not allowing the attack to flourish.
• Static ARP Entries: For essential services, static read-only entries would circumvent any changes in the ARP cache. From a potential attacker, with the ARP entries having  specific configuration that no other device on  network would ever cause.

How to Detect an ARP Cache Poisoning Attack?

The methods on how to detect an ARP cache poisoning attack are pretty complex, but different ways may be implemented, and are given below:

• Network Monitoring Tools: Wireshark is one of the network monitoring tools that can identify which ARP packets are suspicious and form the source of the potential attack. Such tools will analyze network traffic, spotting anomalies that might reflect an ARP spoofing attack.
• ARP Spoofing Detection Software: Specialized software in ARP spoofing detection will continuously compare the ARP cache concerning spoofing attacks and alert the administrator in case of an attack. Filters, data authentication before transmission, and examination at the receiving end will quickly detect and prevent an attack.
• Regular Network Audit: It will help an individual determine the possible vulnerabilities and configure a network properly to prevent ARP spoofing attacks. One will verify that the network has improper configurations and that outdated software security holes are not patched.

Conclusion

ARP spoofing is a form of attack that threatens network security. It allows an attacker to eavesdrop on and tamper with data communications between devices on a LAN. This technique may be used to steal or alter sensitive information besides attacking with DoS attacks or information alterations. 

Ways to prevent ARP spoofing are a mix of a few measures: cryptographic network protocols, packet filters, VPNs, and ARP spoofing-detection software. Moreover, a regular network audit and monitoring tools can detect and prevent it. It is thus essential to understand the basics of ARP spoofing and how it is detected and stopped by the various available tools to help safeguard the computer network’s security.

FAQs

What are ARP poisoning attacks vs. ARP spoofing?

While ARP spoofing and ARP poisoning are used interchangeably, technically, ARP poisoning means changing the ARP cache entries on a network. In contrast, ARP spoofing is the general term that includes ARP poisoning and the sending of falsified ARP messages onto a LAN. 

Which device can an ARP spoofing attack?

An ARP spoofing attack can be conducted against any device on a LAN if the attacker has physical access to the local network segment.

What is the abbreviation for ARP?

ARP is abbreviated as Address Resolution Protocol.

How do hackers utilize ARP?

Hackers communicate data by intercepting and manipulating devices on a LAN. They send out fake ARP messages so that devices will match the attacker’s MAC address with the IP address of another device. By this, they will be capable of causing an intercept and a change in data.

Which tool identifies ARP spoofing?

ARP Spoofing Detection Software tools identify the ARP spoofing attacks by inspecting and certifying the data before transmitting.

Why is ARP used?

ARP resolves the IP to the MAC addresses, an integral function that must be done for communication at the data link layer. It is a significant protocol for connection establishment or maintenance within a network.

How can ARP effectively be used in computer networks?

An instance in which ARP is applied in computer networks is when one host sends an ARP query to all the other hosts on that same network to determine the MAC address of a specified IP address. After that, the host stores this address in its ARP cache for communication with other devices on the same network.