CyberCode Academy

Course 14 - Wi-Fi Pentesting | Episode 6: WPA/WPA2 Cracking Introduction: Exploiting the WPS Vulnerability

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In this lesson, you’ll learn about:
  • The fundamental difference between WEP and WPA/WPA2 security
  • Why WPA and WPA2 are significantly harder to crack than WEP
  • The role of TKIP and CCMP in protecting data integrity
  • What WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is and why it introduces risk
  • How the WPS PIN design weakens WPA/WPA2 security
  • Why push-button authentication (PBC) blocks WPS PIN attacks
  • Why testing for WPS vulnerabilities is the first step in WPA/WPA2 assessments
Transition from WEP to WPA/WPA2 Security After cracking WEP, the course transitions to the more advanced protection mechanisms used by WPA and WPA2. Unlike WEP, which is fundamentally broken at a cryptographic level, WPA and WPA2 were specifically designed to eliminate WEP’s weaknesses. Although WPA and WPA2 share the same core structure, they differ in how message integrity is protected:
  • WPA uses TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol)
  • WPA2 uses CCMP, which is based on the AES encryption standard
This improvement makes WPA and WPA2 far more resistant to direct cryptographic attacks than WEP. Why WPA/WPA2 Are More Difficult to Break Unlike WEP:
  • WPA/WPA2 do not reuse small IV spaces in a predictable way
  • Keys change dynamically
  • Packet replay attacks do not expose keystream weaknesses
As a result:
  • Traditional WEP cracking techniques completely fail
  • Attackers must rely on indirect weaknesses, not on breaking the encryption algorithm itself
The Role of WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) Because WPA and WPA2 are difficult to attack directly, one of the first weaknesses assessed is WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). Purpose of WPS
  • Designed to simplify device connection to routers
  • Allows authentication using:
    • A push button
    • Or an 8-digit PIN code
Why the WPS PIN Is a Security Weakness Although an 8-digit PIN seems strong, it actually creates a small brute-force space due to how the PIN is validated in two halves. This makes it possible for:
  • The PIN to be systematically guessed
  • The process to complete within a relatively short time
Once the correct WPS PIN is discovered:
  • The actual WPA or WPA2 network password can be retrieved
  • Full access to the network becomes possible
When the WPS Attack Works — and When It Fails This method only works if:
  • WPS is enabled
  • The router is using PIN-based authentication
This method fails completely if:
  • The router is configured for Push Button Configuration (PBC)
  • WPS is fully disabled
Why WPS Testing Is Always the First Step Because:
  • Direct WPA/WPA2 cryptographic attacks are extremely complex
  • WPS dramatically reduces the difficulty of network compromise
Security assessments always begin by testing for WPS exposure before attempting any deeper attack strategy. Key Educational Takeaways
  • WPA and WPA2 are cryptographically secure when properly configured
  • The primary weakness often lies in router convenience features, not encryption
  • WPS was built for usability, not maximum security
  • Disabling WPS is one of the most important wireless security hardening steps


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CyberCode AcademyBy CyberCode Academy