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EvilLimiter Practical Guide on Kali Linux

Tool to scan, analyze and throttle or block device bandwidth on a local network without admin access, using ARP spoofing.

Authorized Network Traffic Control, Monitoring, and Defense Simulation

EvilLimiter Practical Guide on Kali Linux

EvilLimiter is a dual-use network traffic manipulation tool. This article is written only for:

  • Authorized penetration-testing labs
  • Defensive security training
  • Incident response simulations
  • Classroom and research environments

Never run EvilLimiter on networks you do not own or have written permission to test. Unauthorized use may violate computer misuse, cybercrime, and telecom laws.

1. Introduction: Why Study EvilLimiter Practically?

Modern networks still rely heavily on trust-based Layer-2 protocols, especially ARP. Even with encrypted applications, traffic availability can be disrupted without touching endpoints.

EvilLimiter is valuable because it demonstrates:

  • How local MITM attacks affect availability
  • How bandwidth starvation impacts users
  • Why ARP inspection, monitoring, and segmentation matter
  • How blue teams can detect and respond to traffic manipulation

This practical guide focuses on doing, observing, and defending.

2. What EvilLimiter Is (According to the Official Project)

Based on the official repository:

EvilLimiter is a Python tool that allows you to:

  • Scan local IPv4 networks
  • Discover hosts automatically
  • Monitor bandwidth usage
  • Limit upload and/or download speeds
  • Block connectivity completely
  • Restore hosts to normal state

It works by combining:

  • ARP spoofing (MITM positioning)
  • Linux traffic control and packet handling

3. Lab Environment Setup (Mandatory)

Component Description
Kali Linux Attacker / Controller
Target VM Windows or Linux
Network Host-only / Internal
Internet Disconnected

Why Isolation Is Critical

  • Prevents accidental disruption
  • Keeps traffic local
  • Ensures legal safety

4. Installing EvilLimiter on Kali Linux

Method 1: Install via APT (If Available)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install evilimiter -y

Method 2: Install from Official GitHub Source

git clone https://github.com/bitbrute/evillimiter.git
cd evillimiter
sudo python3 setup.py install

Verify Installation

evilimiter

Expected Output

EvilLimiter vX.X
Type 'help' to see available commands

This launches EvilLimiter’s interactive shell, which is central to its operation.

5. Understanding EvilLimiter’s Interactive Interface

Unlike one-shot tools, EvilLimiter runs as an interactive console application.

Command Prompt Example

evilimiter>

All operations—scan, limit, block, monitor—are executed inside this shell.

6. Network Interface and Auto-Detection

EvilLimiter can automatically detect:

  • Network interface
  • Gateway IP
  • Gateway MAC
  • Netmask

However, in professional labs, explicit control is preferred.

Start with Interface Selection

sudo evilimiter -i eth0

Output

[*] Interface: eth0
[*] Gateway IP: 192.168.56.1
[*] Netmask: 255.255.255.0
[*] Ready

This confirms EvilLimiter understands your network topology.

7. Scanning the Local Network (Practical)

Command

evilimiter> scan

What It Does

  • Sends ARP requests across subnet
  • Identifies live hosts
  • Resolves MAC addresses
  • Assigns internal IDs

Sample Output

[1] 192.168.56.101  aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:01  Windows
[2] 192.168.56.102  aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:02  Linux

Each host receives a numerical ID, which simplifies later commands.

8. Listing Discovered Hosts

Command

evilimiter> hosts

Output

ID  IP               MAC                  STATUS
1   192.168.56.101   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:01   FREE
2   192.168.56.102   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:02   FREE

Status meanings:

  • FREE – Not limited or blocked
  • LIMITED – Bandwidth throttled
  • BLOCKED – Connectivity dropped

9. Monitoring Bandwidth Usage (Practical Observation)

Command

evilimiter> monitor 1

What Happens

  • Passive traffic observation
  • No interference
  • Useful for baselining behavior

Sample Output

Host 1:
Download: 120 KB/s
Upload: 15 KB/s

This is extremely useful before applying limits.

10. Analyzing Traffic Without Limiting

Command

evilimiter> analyze 1

Purpose

  • Measures traffic patterns
  • Helps defenders understand normal usage
  • No disruption occurs

Output

Analyzing host 1...
Avg Download: 95 KB/s
Avg Upload: 12 KB/s

11. Limiting Bandwidth (Core Practical Feature)

Command

evilimiter> limit 1

By default, EvilLimiter applies moderate throttling.

Output

[*] Limiting host 1
[+] Host 1 is now LIMITED

Effect on Target

  • Internet still works
  • Pages load slowly
  • Streaming buffers
  • VPN connections degrade

This simulates:

  • QoS misconfiguration
  • Network congestion
  • Soft denial of service

12. Custom Bandwidth Limiting (Advanced)

Some versions allow specifying rates:

evilimiter> limit 1 50kbit

Interpretation

  • Artificially caps bandwidth
  • Excellent for SLA testing
  • Demonstrates availability attacks

13. Blocking a Host Completely

Command

evilimiter> block 1

Output

[*] Blocking host 1
[+] Host 1 is now BLOCKED

Target Experience

  • No internet access
  • Local network may still appear connected
  • Applications timeout

This demonstrates:

  • Layer-2 denial techniques
  • ARP-based traffic blackholing

14. Freeing / Restoring a Host (Critical Step)

Command

evilimiter> free 1

Output

[*] Freeing host 1
[+] Host 1 restored

This:

  • Stops ARP spoofing
  • Restores traffic flow
  • Cleans routing rules

Never end a lab without freeing hosts.

15. Watching for IP Changes

Command

evilimiter> watch 1

Purpose

  • Detects DHCP IP changes
  • Maintains control if IP changes
  • Demonstrates persistence risks

Output

[*] Watching host 1 for IP changes

16. Adding a Host Manually

Command

evilimiter> add 192.168.56.150

Used when:

  • Scan misses a host
  • Static devices exist
  • Manual control is needed

17. Clearing the Interface

Command

evilimiter> clear

Purely cosmetic, useful during demos.

18. Exiting EvilLimiter Safely

Command

evilimiter> quit

Always ensure all hosts are FREE before quitting.

19. Observing from the Defender Side

What Blue Teams See

  • Increased latency
  • Packet loss
  • ARP table changes
  • IDS alerts
  • MAC address conflicts

Detection Tools

  • Wireshark
  • arpwatch
  • Zeek
  • Switch ARP inspection logs

20. Common Mistakes in Practical Labs

  • Using bridged networking accidentally
  • Forgetting to restore hosts
  • Running on Wi-Fi with unstable MITM
  • Misidentifying interface
  • Testing on shared networks

21. EvilLimiter vs Legitimate Traffic Control

Aspect EvilLimiter Linux tc
MITM Yes No
Authorization Offensive demo Admin-approved
Stealth None High
Educational Very High High

EvilLimiter teaches why controls matter. tc enforces them legitimately.

22. Defensive Lessons Learned

This practical exercise demonstrates:

  • Why ARP is dangerous without protection
  • Why availability is a security pillar
  • Why monitoring is critical
  • Why segmentation reduces blast radius

23. Best Practices for Ethical Labs

  • Always isolate networks
  • Document scope
  • Monitor both sides
  • Restore network state
  • Log observations

24. When NOT to Use EvilLimiter

  • Production networks
  • Public Wi-Fi
  • Corporate LANs without approval
  • Internet-facing systems

25. Conclusion

EvilLimiter is not an exploitation framework. It is a teaching tool that exposes network trust weaknesses.

Practically used on Kali Linux, it provides deep insight into:

  • Traffic availability attacks
  • MITM risks
  • Detection challenges
  • Defensive architecture needs