Configure the ALFA AWUS036AXML adapter
Addressing configuration issues
When using Wi-Fi adapters for a penetration test, there’s always a potential issue. Sometimes the drivers are removed due to a new kernel or an unexpected update, and other times, it’s because something was overlooked in the VM configuration. In this blog post, I’ll guide you on how to properly configure the Alfa AWUS036AXML adapter and provide the necessary drivers.
VM configuration - the USB Port
When using an adapter in Kali Linux from a preconfigured image from kali.org for VMware workstation, follow these steps:
- Right-click your Kali VM.
- Click Settings.
- Select USB Controller.
- Choose USB 3.1 under USB Compatibility.
This should resolve the issue of trying to connect a USB 3.1 device to a USB 2.0 virtual port.
Installing the drivers
The drivers are provided by ‘kernel.org,’ a trusted source. I’ve created a simple one-liner script, so you can easily run it and obtain the drivers:
mkdir -p /lib/firmware/mediatek && sudo wget https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/mediatek/WIFI_RAM_CODE_MT7961_1.bin -O /lib/firmware/mediatek/WIFI_RAM_CODE_MT7961_1.bin && sudo wget https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/mediatek/WIFI_MT7961_patch_mcu_1_2_hdr.bin -O /lib/firmware/mediatek/WIFI_MT7961_patch_mcu_1_2_hdr.bin && sudo wget https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/mediatek/BT_RAM_CODE_MT7961_1_2_hdr.bin -O /lib/firmware/mediatek/BT_RAM_CODE_MT7961_1_2_hdr.bin
And that’s it — the drivers are now installed and ready to use.
Other issues
While using the Wi-Fi adapter, I’ve encountered several issues. For example:
- Frequent disconnects: Having to disconnect and reconnect repeatedly before Kali detects the adapter. This seems to be a Kali-specific issue, as it is detected instantly in a Ubuntu VM.
- Inability to connect two adapters: This issue can be resolved in the same way as the previous one — by using a Ubuntu VM.
Though I’m not entirely sure, I suspect that Kali’s large collection of drivers for various USB adapters might cause conflicts. It could also be related to the Bluetooth functionality of the adapter.