What Is ARP request replay attack?

What Is ARP request replay

 An ARP request replay attack is a type of network attack in which an attacker intercepts and replays Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests to redirect traffic to a different device on the network. ARP is a protocol used to map an IP address to a physical address, such as a Media Access Control (MAC) address, on a local area network (LAN). ARP request replay attacks are particularly dangerous because they can be used to redirect traffic to a device under the control of an attacker, allowing them to intercept and potentially modify sensitive information.

In an ARP request replay attack, the attacker typically first monitors the network for ARP requests. When an ARP request is detected, the attacker captures the request and replays it at a later time. The replayed request can be modified by the attacker to redirect traffic to their own device, rather than the intended destination. When the original device responds to the ARP request, it sends the response to the attacker's device, rather than the intended destination. The attacker can then intercept and potentially modify the traffic before forwarding it on to the intended destination.

There are several ways to mitigate the risk of an ARP request replay attack. One approach is to use static ARP table entries. In this approach, the administrator manually enters the IP-to-MAC mappings for all devices on the network. This prevents an attacker from using ARP requests to redirect traffic, because the ARP requests will be ignored. However, this approach can be time-consuming and may not be practical in large networks.

Another approach is to use dynamic ARP inspection (DAI). DAI is a feature available on some network switches that can prevent ARP request replay attacks by validating ARP requests and responses. DAI works by inspecting incoming ARP requests and verifying that the IP address and MAC address in the request match the IP address and MAC address of the device sending the request. If the addresses do not match, the request is dropped. DAI can also be configured to monitor ARP responses and drop any responses that do not match a previous ARP request.

In addition to static ARP table entries and dynamic ARP inspection, there are other measures that can be taken to mitigate the risk of an ARP request replay attack. For example, network administrators can implement secure protocols, such as SSL/TLS, to encrypt sensitive traffic. They can also segment their network to limit the impact of a successful attack. For example, they can create separate VLANs for different departments or groups of users, so that an attack on one segment of the network does not affect the entire network.

In conclusion, an ARP request replay attack is a serious threat to the security of a local area network. Attackers can use this technique to redirect traffic to a device under their control, allowing them to intercept and potentially modify sensitive information. However, there are several measures that can be taken to mitigate the risk of an ARP request replay attack, including static ARP table entries, dynamic ARP inspection, secure protocols, and network segmentation. Network administrators should be aware of this threat and take steps to protect their networks from this type of attack.