Wireless networks protected by WPA or WPA2 rely on a four-way handshake mechanism to authenticate clients. Capturing this handshake allows security professionals to perform offline password cracking tests. Airgeddon simplifies this process by integrating key tools such as airodump-ng, aireplay-ng, hashcat, and aircrack-ng. It automates every phase from interface selection to handshake verification and cracking preparation. This level of automation reduces human error and enables testers to focus on strategy rather than configuration.
Airgeddon helps simulate real-world attacks in controlled environments, ensuring ethical hackers and researchers can demonstrate network weaknesses with accuracy. The captured handshake can later be used to attempt a brute-force or dictionary-based password recovery operation. These tests help identify weak passwords, improper network configurations, and overall exposure to brute-force threats in wireless systems.
Role of Handshake Capturing in Penetration Testing
Importance of Handshakes in Wi-Fi Security
The four-way handshake is a key component of WPA and WPA2 encryption protocols. It occurs when a client attempts to connect to a wireless access point and is used to generate encryption keys. This process involves the exchange of specific packets that can be captured by a listening device operating in monitor mode. Once captured, these packets can be stored in a .cap file and used offline for password cracking.
The value of a captured handshake lies in its ability to be tested repeatedly without alerting the target. Unlike online brute-force attempts that can be logged or rate-limited by the access point, offline cracking is silent and time-independent. This makes it a vital method in ethical penetration testing.
Situations Where Capturing is Effective
Handshake capture is especially effective in environments where clients frequently connect and disconnect. Public hotspots, corporate offices, and residential areas are common scenarios. In these situations, attackers can silently capture the handshake or forcibly initiate a connection from a nearby client using deauthentication packets. Once the handshake is obtained, cracking efforts can be attempted at any time without requiring continued access to the network.
Tools Integrated Within Airgeddon for Capturing
Dependency on aircrack-ng for Monitoring
Airgeddon integrates tightly with the aircrack-ng suite, particularly its monitoring and packet capture utilities. aircrack-ng is used to initialize the wireless interface into monitor mode, enabling passive listening to all packets on a selected channel. The reliability and compatibility of aircrack-ng across chipsets make it the preferred backend for capturing WPA handshakes within Airgeddon.
Use of airodump-ng for Listening and Capturing
The tool airodump-ng is used within Airgeddon to target specific access points. It listens for traffic between the client and AP, focusing on beacon frames, association requests, and authentication handshakes. Airgeddon configures airodump-ng with filters that focus on the selected SSID and its connected clients, improving the efficiency of packet capture.
Support for hcxdumptool and PMKID Capture
In addition to traditional handshake capture, Airgeddon supports PMKID-based attacks using hcxdumptool. PMKID can be captured without waiting for a client to connect or disconnect. This allows for faster data collection and supports additional cracking vectors. Airgeddon’s support for hcxdumptool broadens its compatibility with modern Wi-Fi attack methods, including those against enterprise setups that use roaming protocols.
Preparation Phase for Capturing
Interface Selection and Monitor Mode Activation
The handshake capture process begins with selecting the appropriate wireless interface. Airgeddon displays a list of available interfaces and prompts the user to choose one capable of monitor mode. Once selected, the tool uses aircrack-ng to switch the interface into monitor mode and confirms the transition. This setup enables passive traffic monitoring, which is essential for listening to handshakes or PMKID exchanges.
Target Network Identification and Channel Locking
After interface setup, Airgeddon scans for available wireless networks. The user selects the target SSID, and Airgeddon locks onto its channel. This prevents channel hopping and focuses the packet capture process. Locking the channel improves the chances of capturing the complete handshake by avoiding missed packets due to interface switching or scanning.
Optional MAC Address Spoofing
For additional anonymity and to avoid detection by intrusion prevention systems, Airgeddon offers MAC address spoofing before starting the attack. Spoofing changes the identity of the attacker’s network card, which can reduce the likelihood of detection or blacklisting. This step is especially useful in enterprise environments or during red-team operations.
Execution of WPA/WPA2 Handshake Capture
Launching airodump-ng Within Airgeddon
Once configuration is complete, Airgeddon launches airodump-ng in a new terminal window. This tool passively monitors and captures all packets on the locked channel. It highlights connected clients and shows a live feed of signal strength, data rate, and timestamps. When a valid handshake is detected, Airgeddon marks it as captured and saves the data in a .cap file.
Deauthentication Attack for Forced Handshake
If no handshake is captured naturally, Airgeddon can launch a deauthentication attack using aireplay-ng. This sends spoofed deauth packets to disconnect a legitimate client from the access point. When the client reconnects, the handshake is repeated, increasing the chance of capturing all necessary packets. This method is useful in networks with low client activity.
Logging and File Management for Captured Handshakes
Captured handshakes are saved in structured directories within Airgeddon’s logs folder. The script names each file based on the SSID and timestamp for easy tracking. These .cap files are then used in later modules for handshake verification or cracking. File integrity and timestamps are preserved to assist in report generation for audits.
Validation and Cleanup of Captured Handshake
Built-in Handshake Verifier
Airgeddon includes a built-in handshake validation tool. This module parses the .cap file and checks for the presence of a complete four-way handshake. Only handshakes with valid frame sequences are marked as usable. This validation step prevents time waste on corrupted or incomplete captures during the cracking phase.
Removing Duplicates and Filtering Packets
The script filters out unnecessary packets and duplicates to optimize cracking efficiency. By cleaning the .cap file before using it with cracking tools, Airgeddon improves compatibility with hashcat and aircrack-ng. Smaller, clean files allow faster parsing and reduce RAM consumption during brute-force attacks.
Preparing .cap Files for Cracking
Once verified, Airgeddon optionally converts .cap files into hash formats compatible with external tools. For example, it can extract PMKID and WPA hashes for direct input into hashcat. This transformation is important for advanced users who rely on GPU cracking over traditional CPU-based approaches.
Cracking Integration with External Tools
Use of hashcat for GPU-Based Brute Force
Airgeddon supports external cracking using hashcat, one of the fastest password recovery tools available. hashcat uses GPU acceleration to perform dictionary or rule-based brute-force attacks. Airgeddon exports captured handshake hashes into formats that hashcat can use, such as HCCAPX or hashmode 22000. This integration enables users to test password strength at a much higher speed than CPU-only methods.
Use of aircrack-ng for Wordlist Cracking
For users without GPU support or who prefer simpler setups, Airgeddon allows direct use of aircrack-ng for
cracking. This method applies a wordlist to the captured .cap file and attempts to match each word against the captured handshake hash. Although slower than hashcat, aircrack-ng is lightweight and easier to configure, making it useful for small tests or demonstrations.
Custom Wordlists and Dictionary Attacks
Airgeddon supports custom wordlist integration during cracking. Testers can use prebuilt lists or generate their own using tools like crunch. Larger and more specific wordlists increase the probability of cracking weak passwords. Wordlist size, content quality, and relevance to the target environment significantly affect success rates.
Performance Considerations During Cracking
GPU vs CPU Speed Differences
Cracking performance varies greatly between GPU and CPU methods. hashcat using a modern GPU can try millions of hashes per second, while aircrack-ng using a CPU handles significantly fewer. Choosing the right tool based on available hardware is crucial for efficient audits. GPU cracking is strongly recommended for enterprise-scale password testing.
Hash Types and Dictionary Optimization
Different WPA/WPA2 configurations generate different hash structures. Airgeddon simplifies this by providing tools to convert and extract the required hashes. Organizing dictionaries by size and target-specific keywords enhances the efficiency of cracking. Password reuse, common sequences, and localized terms should be included in the dictionary.
Practical Success Rates and Time Estimates
Cracking WPA handshakes depends on password complexity and dictionary strength. Simple passwords are often cracked within minutes, while strong, randomly generated passwords may remain secure even after days of GPU processing. Airgeddon helps demonstrate this contrast, providing a practical evaluation of password policy enforcement.
Best Practices for Ethical Use
Testing on Authorized Networks
Handshake capturing should only be done on networks where explicit permission has been granted. Unethical or unauthorized use of Airgeddon may result in legal penalties. Ethical hackers must operate within signed agreements that define scope, duration, and data usage limitations for the engagement.
Documenting Results for Audit Reports
During penetration testing, proper documentation of captured handshakes and cracking results is necessary. Airgeddon assists this by maintaining detailed logs and saving captures with metadata. Reports should include timestamps, SSID information, success rates, and recommendations for stronger Wi-Fi passwords or EAP configurations.
Using Captured Data Responsibly
Captured credentials, if any, must be stored securely and shared only with authorized parties. Ethical professionals are obligated to delete sensitive data after the assessment is complete. Tools like Airgeddon should never be used for personal or malicious purposes.
Conclusion
Airgeddon provides a robust and automated framework for capturing WPA/WPA2 handshakes and performing password cracking using tools like hashcat and aircrack-ng. It streamlines the entire workflow from interface setup to handshake validation and external cracking. Professionals using Airgeddon gain a powerful toolset for conducting real-world security assessments, exposing weak passwords, and improving wireless security posture.
By adhering to ethical standards, maintaining organized reports, and understanding the strengths of each tool, security teams can deliver valuable insights to organizations. The combination of automation, integration, and flexibility makes Airgeddon an essential asset in any wireless penetration testing toolkit.
