Each network-connected device possesses a distinct Media Access Control (MAC) address, which serves as an exclusive identifier assigned to its network interface card. Malicious actors possess the ability to utilize the method commonly known as MAC spoofing to modify the MAC address of a device in order to imitate another device present on the network. The vulnerability in question allows the attacker to bypass network security protocols that are dependent on MAC addresses, such as MAC filtering or access control based on MAC addresses.
The utilization of a freely available software, namely MAC Address Changer, empowers users to alter the MAC address of their network interface card (NIC). MAC address spoofing is a potential vulnerability that can be leveraged by threat actors to compromise the network and obtain unauthorized access. The tool for changing MAC addresses demonstrates cross-platform compatibility, facilitating a wide spectrum of operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Having a comprehensive understanding of MAC spoofing requires prior knowledge of MAC addresses. The nomenclature “IP address” is widely recognized, while the MAC address seems to be less ubiquitous. Some relevant points are as follows:
- Each device on a network has a unique media access control (MAC) address, sometimes called a physical address. Networking two devices requires an IP and MAC address. Every device’s NIC has a Media Access Control (MAC) address.
- As a cybersecurity professional, you should know that no two devices may have the same MAC address since this identification is unique. The hexadecimal encoding 00:0a:95:9d:67:16 is present in every device.
- The 12-digit alphanumeric identifier comprises 48 bits, with the initial 24 bits allocated for the OUI (Organization Unique Identifier), while the remaining 24 bits are designated for NIC/vendor-specific data.
- It operates on the OSI model’s data link layer.
- It is supplied by the device’s manufacturer and included in its NIC, which is ideally fixed and cannot be modified.
- A logical address is connected to a physical or MAC address using the ARP protocol.