Multi-Protocol Communication and Security System Using ESP8266/32
Multi-Protocol Communication and Security System Using ESP8266/32
Abstract: In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, multi-protocol communication devices play a crucial
role in penetration testing and security research. This paper presents a Multi-Protocol Communication and Security System
using ESP8266/32, designed to explore cybersecurity vulnerabilities across different communication protocols, including
WiFi, RF, and RFID. The project encompasses four distinct tools: Cyberduck (WiFi Rubber Ducky), Signal Spy (RF Signal
Scanning and Replay), ZapTag (RFID Reading, Writing, and Cloning), and ARP Spoofer (Network Scanning and ARP
Spoofing). Each tool is developed for ethical hacking, security testing, and research purposes. This paper discusses the
hardware and software implementation, security implications, and future improvements.
Keywords: ESP8266, ESP32, Cybersecurity, Penetration Testing, WiFi Rubber Ducky, RFID Cloning, RF Signal Replay, ARP
Spoofing.
How to Cite: Akash Kumar; Balwant Yadav; Aniket Jopre; Dr. Monika Deshmukh (2025). Multi-Protocol Communication and
Security System Using ESP8266/32. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 10(3), 471-480.
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25mar337
I. INTRODUCTION research. These tools are built using ESP8266/32 and other
compatible hardware components to facilitate the exploration
In today’s digital age, cybersecurity threats are evolving of security vulnerabilities in various communication
at an unprecedented pace, making it increasingly difficult to protocols. The system includes multiple components, such as
secure wireless and network communication systems from Cyberduck (a WiFi-based HID injection tool), Signal Spy (an
sophisticated attacks. Malicious actors continuously develop RF signal scanning and replay tool), ZapTag (an RFID reading
new techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in communication and cloning device), and ARP Spoofer (a network scanning
protocols, emphasizing the need for robust security measures and spoofing tool). Each of these devices serves a unique
and proactive threat detection. As a result, security function, allowing security professionals to analyze security
professionals and researchers require advanced tools to weaknesses in WiFi, RF, RFID, and Ethernet networks.
analyze, identify, and mitigate potential risks before they can
be exploited in real-world scenarios. By leveraging the capabilities of ESP8266/32
microcontrollers, this research aims to provide a cost-effective
Microcontrollers such as the ESP8266 and ESP32 have and practical approach to penetration testing. The proposed
gained popularity due to their affordability, low power system is designed to help security professionals and ethical
consumption, and extensive networking capabilities. These hackers identify weaknesses, simulate attacks, and develop
devices support various wireless communication protocols, countermeasures to enhance overall cybersecurity.
making them highly suitable for cybersecurity applications. Furthermore, this work underscores the importance of using
The ESP8266 and ESP32 integrate WiFi functionality and can open-source hardware and software for security research,
be programmed to perform tasks such as wireless penetration fostering innovation and collaboration in the field of
testing, packet sniffing, and network spoofing, making them cybersecurity.
valuable tools for security researchers. Additionally, their
ability to interface with external modules, including RF II. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
transceivers, RFID readers, and Ethernet adapters, further
enhances their capabilities in testing vulnerabilities across The Multi-Protocol Communication and Security
multiple communication technologies. System is designed to support various penetration testing and
security research tasks, leveraging ESP8266/ESP32
This paper introduces a Multi-Protocol Communication microcontrollers and other compatible hardware. Each tool
and Security System, which comprises a suite of cybersecurity within the system is specialized for analyzing vulnerabilities
tools specifically designed for penetration testing and security in WiFi, RF, and RFID communication channels. The
By combining low-cost microcontrollers with advanced A sub-GHz RF transceiver capable of capturing and
software-based testing techniques, this system provides a replaying wireless signals in the 315MHz, 433MHz, and
cost-effective and scalable approach to penetration testing, 868MHz frequency bands.
security analysis, and ethical hacking. Each tool is designed Used in Signal Spy to analyze, record, and transmit RF
to be modular, allowing it to function independently or as part signals, which can be used for wireless security testing and
of a larger security assessment workflow. Below is a detailed replay attacks.
breakdown of the hardware and software components used in Supports frequency hopping detection, making it useful for
this system. identifying vulnerabilities in wireless key fobs, IoT
devices, and remote-controlled systems.
A. Hardware Components
The hardware used in this system is carefully selected to B. Software Framework
ensure high performance, versatility, and compatibility with The software architecture is designed to streamline
multiple communication protocols. These components enable security testing, automate attack execution, and provide in-
the system to interact with WiFi networks, RFID-based depth analysis of vulnerabilities. The system integrates
security systems, and RF-based devices for security testing multiple development tools and analysis platforms to
and exploitation research. facilitate firmware development, scripting, and real-time
monitoring.
ESP8266/ESP32 Microcontrollers:
Arduino IDE and PlatformIO for Firmware Development:
These WiFi-enabled microcontrollers serve as the core
processing units of the system. Arduino IDE is used for writing and uploading firmware
They provide wireless connectivity, real-time processing, to ESP8266/ESP32.
and automation capabilities. PlatformIO provides an advanced environment with better
ESP32, with its dual-core processor and Bluetooth library management, debugging tools, and multi-platform
support, offers enhanced performance over ESP8266. support.
Used for executing security scripts, controlling connected These tools allow the creation of custom penetration
modules, and performing real-time security testing. testing scripts for WiFi, RFID, and RF-based security
assessments.
ATmega32u4 for USB HID Emulation:
Python and Bash Scripts for Automation:
ATmega32u4 is a microcontroller with native USB
capabilities, allowing it to function as a keyboard or Python is used for automating security tasks, such as
mouse. packet analysis, brute force attacks, and data parsing.
Used in Cyberduck for HID injection attacks, where pre- Bash scripts enable command-line execution of
programmed keystrokes can be executed remotely. penetration testing tools, improving workflow efficiency.
Helps simulate keylogging, automated script execution, These scripts allow seamless integration with third-party
and phishing attack simulations. tools like Wireshark and RF analyzers for deeper
inspection of captured data.
W5500 Ethernet Module for Network Spoofing:
Wireshark and RF Analyzers for Testing:
The W5500 Ethernet controller enables wired network
interactions for advanced penetration testing. Wireshark, a powerful network protocol analyzer, is used
Used in ARP Spoofer to perform network packet analysis, for monitoring network traffic and detecting
ARP poisoning, and Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks. vulnerabilities.
Provides stable and high-speed network communication RF analyzers help decode and analyze RF signals, making
for active and passive network security assessments. them essential for Signal Spy's RF signal scanning and
replay functionality.
RC522 RFID Module for Reading, Writing, and Cloning These tools are instrumental in performing deep packet
Tags: inspection (DPI), protocol reverse engineering, and
forensic analysis of wireless communication.
The RC522 RFID reader/writer allows interaction with
NFC and RFID access control systems.
Cyberduck operates using a combination of ESP8266 The web interface eliminates the need for external
(for WiFi communication) and ATmega32u4 (for HID software or a command-line interface, making Cyberduck
emulation). It features a web-based user interface, enabling user-friendly and accessibleas as shown in the figure no 1.
users to deploy, edit, and execute payloads remotely. The
Signal Spy is built around the CC1101 RF Signal Spy features a web-based user interface that allows
transceiver, a highly flexible low-power module capable researchers to visualize captured signals, control playback,
of tuning into multiple frequency bands. and configure settings in real time.
The CC1101 allows for: The Web UI provides:
Wideband signal reception, covering popular sub-GHz A real-time RF spectrum analyzer, displaying live signals.
frequencies (315MHz, 433MHz, 868MHz). Playback controls, allowing users to replay recorded
Demodulation of ASK, FSK, and OOK signals, which are signals with precise timing.
commonly used in key fobs, garage door openers, alarm Configuration options for setting custom scanning
systems, and IoT devices. frequencies, modulation types, and recording durations.
The stored RFID data can be modified or rewritten with The ARP Spoofer can operate in stealth mode, monitoring
new values. all broadcasted ARP requests in the network.
It helps identify active hosts, open ports, and live
Clone or Emulate RFID Tags connections without directly interacting with devices.
Useful for network reconnaissance without triggering
ZapTag allows users to write the stored data onto blank security alerts.
RFID tags, creating fully functional duplicates.
If supported by the hardware, the tool can also emulate a Active Scanning:
cloned RFID credential, allowing for:
Sends custom ARP requests to map the network topology.
Virtual access card emulation on NFC-capable devices. Identifies connected devices, MAC addresses, and IP
Testing access control systems without physical addresses.
duplication. Can detect security misconfigurations and unpatched
vulnerabilities in networked devices.
D. ARP Spoofer – Network Scanning and ARP Spoofing Helps assess the effectiveness of Intrusion Detection
The ARP Spoofer is a powerful network security testing Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS).
device designed for penetration testers, ethical hackers, and
security researchers. It enables users to identify vulnerabilities DoS Attack Simulation for Research Purposes
in network infrastructures by performing ARP poisoning
attacks, passive network scanning, and DoS (Denial-of- Simulates Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks to test network
Service) attack simulations. robustness.
Overwhelms targets by flooding them with ARP requests,
Built using an ATmega32u4 microcontroller and a causing network disruption.
W5500 Ethernet module, the ARP Spoofer allows researchers Helps security teams evaluate:
to: How well their firewalls and security appliances handle
ARP-based attacks.
This research highlights the effectiveness of using Unusual packet transmission patterns (e.g., ARP
ESP8266 and ESP32 microcontrollers for cybersecurity poisoning, deauthentication floods).
testing across multiple communication protocols. These low- Anomalous RF signals that indicate replay attacks or
cost, highly versatile devices provide a powerful platform for unauthorized transmissions.
security researchers, ethical hackers, and penetration testers to Deviations in RFID/NFC authentication patterns that may
evaluate and analyze wireless and network vulnerabilities in signal cloning attempts.
real-world scenarios.
Implement edge AI on ESP32, allowing real-time
By leveraging ESP8266/32’s capabilities, we processing of network traffic and RF signals without
successfully conducted tests across Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, reliance on external servers.
and sub-GHz RF communication protocols. These
microcontrollers have proven to be valuable tools for: Expanding Support for Additional RF Bands &
Communication Protocols
Identifying weaknesses in wireless security
implementations. Extend RF signal analysis and attack capabilities to
Simulating real-world cyberattacks to test the resilience of include LoRa, Zigbee, and Z-Wave communication
various security protocols. protocols.
Developing and deploying security countermeasures to Develop support for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands to enhance
strengthen network and IoT device security. Wi-Fi security testing capabilities.
Implement Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) attack tools,
Through practical experiments, we demonstrated that including:
ESP-based security tools can perform advanced attacks such
as Wi-Fi deauthentication, ARP spoofing, RFID cloning, RF Passive scanning and device fingerprinting.
signal analysis, and replay attacks, making them indispensable BLE packet injection and spoofing.
for modern cybersecurity research. Exploring vulnerabilities in BLE pairing mechanisms.
However, as new threats emerge, there is an increasing Improve RF replay attack functionality to include more
need to enhance the effectiveness of these tools by integrating precise signal modulation and frequency hopping
automated threat detection, AI-based analysis, and expanded techniques, increasing effectiveness against modern
protocol support. rolling code security systems.