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Wi-Fi Deauthentication Attack Detection Using ESP8266 -Based Real-Time Packet Monitoring
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Wireless Network Security, IDS
Abstract
Wireless networks are increasingly critical to modern communication, yet they remain vulnerable to management frame exploits. Among these, deauthentication attacks are particularly disruptive, forcibly disconnecting clients from access points and enabling denial-of-service or man-in-the-middle intrusions. This paper presents a low-cost, real-time Intrusion Detection System (IDS) using the ESP8266 microcontroller. Configured in promiscuous mode, the ESP8266 captures Wi-Fi frames, identifies malicious subtypes (0xC0 for deauth, 0xA0 for disassoc), extracts attacker MAC addresses, and triggers alerts via LCD, buzzer, and LED. Experimental validation demonstrates detection latency under 500 ms, 100% accuracy in controlled environments, and zero false positives. The proposed solution democratizes Wi-Fi security for homes, small offices, and educational institutions, contributing to grassroots-level cybersecurity awareness.
Keywords
Wi-Fi Security, Deauthentication Attack, ESP8266, Intrusion Detection System, Promiscuous Mode
References
[1] A. Mishra, W. Arbaugh, “An Initial Security Analysis of IEEE 802.11,” ACM SIGMOBILE
[2] Mobile Computing and Communications Review, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 31–40, 2003.
[3] J. Bellardo, S. Savage, “802.11 Denial-of- Service Attacks: Real Vulnerabilities and Practical Solutions,” Proc. USENIX Security Symposium, 2003.
[4] M. Gast, 802.11 Wireless Networks: The Definitive Guide, 2nd ed., O’Reilly Media, 2005.
[5] Y. Khandelwal, S. Jossy, A. C. Nair, “Design and Implementation of Wi-Fi Deauthentication System Using NodeMCU ESP8266,” IJRAR, vol. 10, no. 2, 2023.
[6] L. Saranya et al., “Detect Wi-Fi De- Authentication Attacks Using ESP8266,” IJERT, vol. 13, no. 3, 2024.
How to cite this paper
@article{1715214,
author = {K. R. Mohan Raj, Tharunkumar M, Thirulok Mugilan},
title = {Wi-Fi Deauthentication Attack Detection Using ESP8266 -Based Real-Time Packet Monitoring},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {9},
number = {9},
pages = {1432-1434},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1715214.pdf},
abstract = {Wireless networks are increasingly critical to modern communication, yet they remain vulnerable to management frame exploits. Among these, deauthentication attacks are particularly disruptive, forcibly disconnecting clients from access points and enabling denial-of-service or man-in-the-middle intrusions. This paper presents a low-cost, real-time Intrusion Detection System (IDS) using the ESP8266 microcontroller. Configured in promiscuous mode, the ESP8266 captures Wi-Fi frames, identifies malicious subtypes (0xC0 for deauth, 0xA0 for disassoc), extracts attacker MAC addresses, and triggers alerts via LCD, buzzer, and LED. Experimental validation demonstrates detection latency under 500 ms, 100% accuracy in controlled environments, and zero false positives. The proposed solution democratizes Wi-Fi security for homes, small offices, and educational institutions, contributing to grassroots-level cybersecurity awareness.},
keywords = {Wi-Fi Security, Deauthentication Attack, ESP8266, Intrusion Detection System, Promiscuous Mode},
month = {March},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I9-1715214}
}