huntd

huntd [-i interface] [-d level] [-L logfile] [-c configfile]

-i interface
    Specifies the network interface huntd should listen on. If omitted, huntd attempts to automatically select a suitable interface.

-d level
    Sets the debug level. Higher numerical values generally result in more verbose output, useful for troubleshooting.

-L logfile
    Directs huntd's output and logs to the specified file. This option's availability may vary across different versions.

-c configfile
    Specifies an alternative configuration file for huntd to load. This option's availability may vary across different versions.

huntd is the daemon component of the Hunt network monitoring and attack suite. It operates in the background, primarily performing passive sniffing of network traffic and actively engaging in various forms of network manipulation, including TCP/UDP connection hijacking, ARP spoofing, and session resets.

Designed for network security analysis and penetration testing, huntd enables an attacker to intercept, analyze, and potentially take over established network sessions on unencrypted networks. Its features include detecting and displaying connection information, attempting to spoof packets, and injecting arbitrary data into existing connections.

Once a prominent tool for ethical hacking and network security assessments, its relevance has decreased with the widespread adoption of encrypted protocols (e.g., HTTPS, SSH) and the availability of more modern network analysis tools. huntd typically requires root privileges to access raw network sockets and perform its operations effectively.

huntd is an older network utility primarily designed for unencrypted network environments. It requires root privileges to execute and can perform highly destructive network actions such as session hijacking and ARP spoofing, which can severely disrupt network services or compromise sensitive data.

Its unauthorized use on any network is illegal and unethical. Furthermore, modern Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) are highly likely to detect and alert on the activities performed by huntd.

huntd functions as a background daemon, passively collecting network information and actively performing specified actions. It communicates with the hunt client utility (also part of the Hunt package), which provides a command-line interface for users to interact with the daemon, view captured data, and initiate various network attacks or analyses.

Given its potent network manipulation capabilities, huntd is classified as an offensive security tool. Its deployment and use should be strictly limited to ethical hacking environments, security research, or penetration testing scenarios on networks where explicit consent and legal authorization have been obtained. Unauthorized use can lead to severe security breaches and legal repercussions.

Hunt, including the huntd daemon, was developed by Michal Zalewski (lcamtuf) in the late 1990s. It rapidly gained notoriety as a powerful tool for network session hijacking and ARP spoofing, becoming a staple in the toolkit of network security researchers and penetration testers of that era. Its development predates the widespread adoption of strong encryption on the internet, making its session hijacking capabilities particularly effective against plaintext protocols like Telnet and FTP. While it played a significant role in demonstrating network vulnerabilities, its active development and widespread usage have declined as network security practices, especially the use of SSL/TLS, have matured.

hunt(8), tcpdump(1), wireshark(1), ettercap(8), nmap(1)