# Cowpatty Pentest Course – Section 1: Introduction to Cowpatty
## Introduction
As cybersecurity professionals, it's crucial to understand the various tools available for penetration testing, especially those that can aid in the assessment of wireless network security. One such powerful tool is **Cowpatty**, which stands for "Crack WPA PSK". Cowpatty is designed to perform brute-force attacks on WPA/WPA2 pre-shared key (PSK) networks using a previously captured WPA handshake.
In this section, we will explore the installation and configuration of Cowpatty on Kali Linux, dive into its functionalities, and demonstrate practical applications through real-world use cases. We'll also provide detailed technical explanations to deepen your understanding of how Cowpatty operates.
### Table of Contents
1. Installation and Configuration on Kali Linux
2. Step-by-Step Usage
3. Real-World Use Cases
4. Technical Explanations
5. External References
—
## 1. Installation and Configuration on Kali Linux
### Installing Cowpatty
Kali Linux, a distribution tailored for penetration testing, often comes with Cowpatty pre-installed. However, if you need the latest version or if it's not available, you can easily install it via the terminal.
**Step 1: Update Your System**
Before installing any package, it's good practice to update your system. Open a terminal and run:
"`bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
"`
**Step 2: Install Cowpatty**
To install Cowpatty, execute the following command:
"`bash
sudo apt install cowpatty
"`
**Step 3: Verify Installation**
After installation, you can confirm that Cowpatty is installed correctly by checking its version:
"`bash
cowpatty -v
"`
If Cowpatty is installed properly, you should see the version information displayed.
### Configuration
Cowpatty does not require extensive configuration but does need access to a dictionary file to perform attacks effectively. A common dictionary file used is `rockyou.txt`, which is often included in Kali Linux.
**Step 1: Locate Your Dictionary File**
You can find `rockyou.txt` by navigating to the following directory:
"`bash
cd /usr/share/wordlists/
"`
If the file is not present, you can download it using:
"`bash
sudo apt install wordlists
"`
**Step 2: Specify the Dictionary File**
When launching Cowpatty, you will need to specify the path to the dictionary file using the `-d` option.
"`bash
cowpatty -d /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
"`
—
## 2. Step-by-Step Usage
### Capturing WPA Handshake
Before using Cowpatty, we need to capture the WPA handshake from a target network. This can be done using tools like `airodump-ng`.
**Step 1: Put Your Wireless Card in Monitor Mode**
If you're using a wireless card that supports monitor mode, run the following commands:
"`bash
sudo airmon-ng start wlan0
"`
Here, `wlan0` should be replaced with your actual wireless interface name.
**Step 2: Capture Handshake**
Now, use `airodump-ng` to capture the WPA handshake:
"`bash
sudo airodump-ng wlan0mon
"`
Identify the target network and note the BSSID and channel. You can capture the handshake with:
"`bash
sudo airodump-ng –bssid
"`
Replace `
**Step 3: Wait for a Client to Connect**
Keep your terminal open and wait for a client to connect to the AP. Once a connection happens, you’ll see a message indicating that the handshake has been captured.
### Using Cowpatty
Once you have captured the handshake in a file (e.g., `capture-01.cap`), you can start using Cowpatty to crack the WPA key.
**Step 1: Running Cowpatty**
Use the following command to run Cowpatty:
"`bash
cowpatty -r capture-01.cap -d /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt -s
"`
– `-r` specifies the captured handshake file.
– `-d` points to your dictionary file.
– `-s` specifies the SSID of the target network.
**Step 2: Analyze the Output**
Cowpatty will run through the dictionary file and attempt to match the captured handshake. If successful, you will see the plaintext PSK displayed in the terminal.
—
## 3. Real-World Use Cases
### Use Case 1: Auditing a Corporate Network
Imagine you are a security consultant tasked with auditing a corporate network with WPA2 security. You can use Cowpatty to identify weak passwords within the organization.
1. Capture the handshake as described above.
2. Use a comprehensive wordlist that might contain common password patterns used by employees.
3. Analyze the results to identify weak passwords and provide recommendations to the client to strengthen their wireless security.
### Use Case 2: Penetration Testing for Compliance
When performing penetration tests for compliance (e.g., PCI-DSS), it's essential to demonstrate the security of wireless networks. Cowpatty can be utilized to test the strength of the wireless network password against a set of known dictionary attacks.
1. Capture the handshake.
2. Run Cowpatty against a customized dictionary that includes variations of default passwords.
3. Report findings to ensure compliance with security standards.
—
## 4. Technical Explanations
### How Cowpatty Works
Cowpatty uses a method called a "hash table attack" to crack WPA PSK. The process involves the following:
1. **Handshake Capture**: When a device connects to a WPA/WPA2 network, it performs a four-way handshake with the access point.
2. **Key Derivation**: Cowpatty computes the PMK (Pairwise Master Key) based on the captured handshake and the pre-shared key (PSK) from the dictionary.
3. **Comparison**: If the derived PMK matches the handshake, Cowpatty confirms that the PSK is valid.
Cowpatty is efficient because it employs techniques such as pre-computed hash tables (rainbow tables) to expedite the cracking process.
### Security Considerations
While Cowpatty is a potent tool for penetration testing, it's critical to use it ethically and legally. Always obtain permission before testing a network that is not your own. Furthermore, ensure that your use of Cowpatty aligns with organizational policies and legal frameworks.
—
## 5. External References
For further reading and a deeper dive into Cowpatty and related tools, consider the following resources:
– [Kali Linux Official Documentation on Cowpatty](https://www.kali.org/tools/cowpatty)
– [Understanding WPA/WPA2 Security](https://www.wireshark.org/docs/wsug_html_chunked/ChAdvWPA.html)
– [How to Crack WPA/WPA2 in 5 Minutes](https://www.hackerzvoice.net/how-to-crack-wpawpa2-in-5-minutes/)
– [Online Resources for Dictionary Files](https://github.com/danielmiessler/SecLists)
—
This concludes Section 1 of the Cowpatty Pentest Course. In the upcoming sections, we will explore more advanced functionalities and real-world scenarios involving Cowpatty, ensuring you master this essential pentesting tool.
nnMade by pablo rotem / פבלו רותם