performing-wireless-network-penetration-test

name	performing-wireless-network-penetration-test
description	Execute a wireless network penetration test to assess WiFi security by capturing handshakes, cracking WPA2/WPA3 keys, detecting rogue access points, and testing wireless segmentation using Aircrack-ng and related tools.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	penetration-testing
tags	["wireless-pentest","WiFi","Aircrack-ng","WPA2","WPA3","rogue-AP","evil-twin",802.11,"Kismet"]
version	1.0
author	mahipal
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["ID.RA-01","ID.RA-06","GV.OV-02","DE.AE-07"]

Performing Wireless Network Penetration Test

Overview

Wireless penetration testing evaluates the security of an organization's WiFi infrastructure including encryption strength, authentication mechanisms, rogue access point detection, client isolation, and network segmentation. Testing covers 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax protocols, WPA2-PSK, WPA2-Enterprise, WPA3-SAE, captive portals, and Bluetooth/BLE where in scope.

When to Use

• When conducting security assessments that involve performing wireless network penetration test
• When following incident response procedures for related security events
• When performing scheduled security testing or auditing activities
• When validating security controls through hands-on testing

Prerequisites

• Written authorization specifying wireless scope (SSIDs, BSSIDs, physical locations)
• Compatible wireless adapter supporting monitor mode and packet injection (e.g., Alfa AWUS036ACH, TP-Link TL-WN722N v1)
• Kali Linux with Aircrack-ng suite, Bettercap, Wifite, Kismet
• Physical proximity to target wireless networks
• GPS receiver for mapping (optional)

Phase 1 — Wireless Reconnaissance

Enable Monitor Mode

# Check wireless interfaces
iwconfig
airmon-ng

# Kill interfering processes
airmon-ng check kill

# Enable monitor mode
airmon-ng start wlan0
# Interface becomes wlan0mon

# Verify monitor mode
iwconfig wlan0mon

Passive Scanning

# Discover all networks in range
airodump-ng wlan0mon -w wireless_scan --output-format csv,pcap

# Filter by specific channel
airodump-ng wlan0mon -c 6 -w channel6_scan

# Scan 5GHz band
airodump-ng wlan0mon --band a -w 5ghz_scan

# Scan all bands
airodump-ng wlan0mon --band abg -w full_scan

# Kismet passive scanning (advanced)
kismet -c wlan0mon
# Access web UI at http://localhost:2501

Network Inventory

SSID	BSSID	Channel	Encryption	Clients	Signal
CorpWiFi