ARP Scanning and Fingerprinting Tool: arp-scan

arp-scan is a powerful command-line tool designed for network scanning and host fingerprinting using the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). It efficiently identifies active IPv4 devices on a local network and provides valuable information for network administrators and security professionals. Available for Linux, BSD, macOS, and Solaris under the GPLv3 license, arp-scan offers a versatile solution for network discovery and analysis.

Installing arp-scan

arp-scan can be installed in several ways depending on your operating system and preferences:

Building from Source

For the latest features and updates, building arp-scan from the source code offers the most current version:

1. Clone the Repository: git clone https://github.com/royhills/arp-scan.git
2. Navigate to Directory: cd arp-scan
3. Generate Configure File: autoreconf --install (or download the latest tarball if autoreconf is unavailable)
4. Configure Build: ./configure (refer to ./configure --help for customization options)
5. Build: make
6. Verify (Optional): make check
7. Install: make install (requires root privileges)

Prerequisites for Building from Source:

• GNU automake and autoconf (or the latest tarball containing configure)
• make utility (BSD or GNU)
• C compiler supporting C99 (e.g., gcc, clang)
• libpcap version 1.5 or later (development headers required)
• libcap for POSIX.1e capabilities support on Linux (recommended)

Binary Package Installation

Many Linux distributions offer pre-built binary packages for easier installation. While these may not be the absolute latest version, they are generally more convenient to install and manage using the distribution’s package manager. Check your distribution’s repository for arp-scan.

BSD Port Installation

BSD systems often provide installation through ports collections. This method combines the convenience of package management with the flexibility of building from source. Consult your BSD distribution’s documentation for instructions on using ports.

Using arp-scan for Network Analysis

arp-scan uses ARP requests to identify active hosts on a network. By sending ARP requests to specific IP addresses or broadcasting them to the entire network, arp-scan can determine which devices respond and glean information such as their MAC addresses.

Basic Usage:

sudo arp-scan --localnet (scans the local network)

Key Features:

• Fast and Efficient Scanning: Quickly identifies live hosts.
• MAC Address Detection: Retrieves MAC addresses of active devices.
• Vendor Lookup: Can resolve MAC addresses to vendor names for device identification.
• Interface Selection: Allows specifying the network interface to use.
• Customizable Scanning Range: Supports scanning specific IP ranges or individual addresses.
• Output Options: Provides various output formats for easy analysis.

arp-fingerprint for Device Fingerprinting

The arp-fingerprint tool, included with arp-scan, allows for more in-depth analysis by fingerprinting devices based on their ARP responses. This helps to identify specific operating systems and hardware platforms on the network.

Conclusion

arp-scan is an invaluable tool for network administrators and security professionals. Its ability to quickly and efficiently scan networks, identify active hosts, and fingerprint devices makes it an essential component of any network analysis toolkit. Whether built from source or installed through a package manager, arp-scan provides critical insights into network activity and device identification. For detailed usage instructions and advanced options, consult the arp-scan manual page (man arp-scan). The official GitHub repository (https://github.com/royhills/arp-scan/) offers additional resources and documentation.