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Wi-Fi Phishing Attacks with Wifiphisher: A Professional Walkthrough

Conduct Wi-Fi phishing attacks using Wifiphisher. Learn setup, usage, and tactics for red teamers and cybersecurity professionals.

In the realm of wireless security assessments, social engineering remains one of the most effective attack vectors. Wifiphisher is a specialized tool designed to automate Wi-Fi phishing attacks, allowing red teamers and penetration testers to simulate realistic scenarios that capture credentials and manipulate victims into revealing sensitive data. This article provides a professional, step-by-step guide to understanding, installing, and using Wifiphisher on Kali Linux.

Wi-Fi Phishing Attacks with Wifiphisher: A Professional Walkthrough

What is Wifiphisher?

Wifiphisher is a rogue Access Point (AP) framework for conducting red team engagements or Wi-Fi security testing. Rather than focusing on brute-force or deauthentication attacks alone, it targets users through phishing techniques. Wifiphisher sets up a rogue AP to mimic legitimate networks and uses customizable templates to serve phishing pages aimed at harvesting credentials or triggering payloads.

Key Features

  • Evil Twin Attacks: Clone a legitimate Wi-Fi network to lure users.
  • Custom Phishing Pages: Intercept HTTP/HTTPS requests and redirect users to social engineering pages.
  • Firmware Upgrade Phishing: Trick users into providing credentials under the guise of a required router update.
  • Captive Portal Enforcement: Mimic public hotspots to harvest login credentials.
  • Modular Architecture: Extend Wifiphisher with custom plugins for advanced operations.

Lab Setup Requirements

Before diving in, ensure you have the following:

  • Kali Linux (latest version recommended)

  • Two Wi-Fi network adapters:

    • One capable of monitor mode
    • One for Access Point (AP) mode
  • Root privileges on Kali
  • Internet connection for package installation (initial setup)

Installation on Kali Linux

Wifiphisher is not pre-installed on Kali but can be easily installed via its GitHub repository.

Step 1: Install Dependencies

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git python3-pip libnl-3-dev libnl-genl-3-dev

Step 2: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/wifiphisher/wifiphisher.git
cd wifiphisher

Step 3: Install via Pip

sudo python3 setup.py install

Verify installation:

wifiphisher --version

Using Wifiphisher

Once installed, using Wifiphisher is straightforward. It operates in several modes, depending on the type of attack you wish to simulate.

Basic Launch Command

sudo wifiphisher

This launches the interactive mode where you'll be prompted to select:

  • The wireless interface for jamming
  • The wireless interface for the rogue AP
  • The target SSID to impersonate

Wifiphisher will then scan nearby networks, allow you to pick a target, and begin deauthenticating clients while setting up a phishing page.

Wi-Fi Phishing Attacks with Wifiphisher: A Professional Walkthrough

Wi-Fi Phishing Attacks with Wifiphisher: A Professional Walkthrough

Wi-Fi Phishing Attacks with Wifiphisher: A Professional Walkthrough

Targeted Attack (Evil Twin with Firmware Upgrade Page)

sudo wifiphisher -aI wlan1 -jI wlan0 --essid "Home_Network" --phishing-script firmware-upgrade

Explanation:

  • -aI: Interface for the rogue AP
  • -jI: Interface for jamming (deauth)
  • --essid: Spoofed network name
  • --phishing-script: Choose the phishing scenario

Captive Portal Style Phishing

sudo wifiphisher --nojamming --phishing-script oauth-login

This uses the rogue AP without actively disconnecting clients, ideal in low-noise environments where deauth might trigger alerts.

Creating Custom Phishing Pages

Wifiphisher supports user-made phishing scripts. These are written in Python and HTML/CSS and stored under the wifiphisher/data/phishing-pages/ directory. Each script requires a configuration file and a backend script to handle the phishing logic.

For advanced users, building realistic login portals that match targeted network branding can drastically increase success rates in controlled assessments.

Use Cases in Red Team Operations

  • Credential Harvesting: Corporate login portals to test password reuse.
  • Payload Delivery: Trigger executable downloads under the guise of firmware updates.
  • Security Awareness Training: Demonstrate the effectiveness of phishing via rogue APs.
  • Guest Wi-Fi Bypass Testing: Simulate captive portal spoofing for security testing.

Wifiphisher is a powerful tool and must be used responsibly. Ensure:

  • You have explicit authorization before testing any network.
  • You operate within the scope of a signed penetration testing agreement.
  • You follow local laws and regulations regarding wireless spectrum usage and spoofing.

Misuse of Wifiphisher outside of legal environments can result in criminal charges.

Final Thoughts

Wifiphisher bridges the gap between wireless attacks and social engineering. Its ease of use, modularity, and real-world phishing templates make it a go-to tool for wireless red team operations and training environments. When combined with a professional methodology, Wifiphisher can effectively highlight wireless security weaknesses and help organizations improve their defenses.