In this attack scenario, the attacker passively listens for WiFi messages and logs the associated Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. These addresses are intended to be unique to each wireless device (although they can be configured and changed by software). Once the attacker is able to associate a MAC address with a particular user or set of users (for example, when attending a public event), the attacker can then scan for that MAC address to track that user in the future.
Typical Severity
Low
Relationships
The table below shows the other attack patterns and high level categories that are related to this attack pattern. These relationships are defined as ChildOf and ParentOf, and give insight to similar items that may exist at higher and lower levels of abstraction. In addition, relationships such as CanFollow, PeerOf, and CanAlsoBe are defined to show similar attack patterns that the user may want to explore.
Nature
Type
ID
Name
ChildOf
Standard Attack Pattern - A standard level attack pattern in CAPEC is focused on a specific methodology or technique used in an attack. It is often seen as a singular piece of a fully executed attack. A standard attack pattern is meant to provide sufficient details to understand the specific technique and how it attempts to accomplish a desired goal. A standard level attack pattern is a specific type of a more abstract meta level attack pattern.
Open source and commercial software tools are available and several commercial advertising companies routinely set up tools to collect and monitor MAC addresses.
Mitigations
Automatic randomization of WiFi MAC addresses
Frequent changing of handset and retransmission device
Related Weaknesses
A Related Weakness relationship associates a weakness with this attack pattern. Each association implies a weakness that must exist for a given attack to be successful. If multiple weaknesses are associated with the attack pattern, then any of the weaknesses (but not necessarily all) may be present for the attack to be successful. Each related weakness is identified by a CWE identifier.
Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint ('Man-in-the-Middle')
Content History
Submissions
Submission Date
Submitter
Organization
2015-11-09
CAPEC Content Team
The MITRE Corporation
Modifications
Modification Date
Modifier
Organization
2018-07-31
CAPEC Content Team
The MITRE Corporation
Updated Attack_Motivation-Consequences
2019-04-04
CAPEC Content Team
The MITRE Corporation
Updated Related_Weaknesses
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Page Last Updated or Reviewed:
September 30, 2019
Use of the Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification dictionary and classification taxonomy, and the associated references from this website, are subject to the Terms of Use. For more information, please email capec@mitre.org.
Description
Content History
