Arp Spoofing in Adonisjs with Mssql

Arp Spoofing is a Layer 2 attack where an attacker sends falsified ARP messages to associate their MAC address with the IP of a legitimate host, such as your database server. In an Adonisjs application using Microsoft SQL Server (Mssql), this can expose sensitive data in transit because the framework relies on standard TCP connections to the Mssql instance. If an attacker is on the same network segment, they can intercept queries and responses, capturing credentials, result sets, or session tokens.

Adonisjs applications typically connect to Mssql via configuration values in config/database.ts, specifying the host, port, and credentials. Because Arp Spoofing operates at the network layer, it does not require a vulnerability in Adonisjs itself; rather, it exploits weak network segmentation. When the application sends a query to what it believes is the legitimate Mssql server, the spoofed device can capture or manipulate the traffic. This risk is elevated in environments without encryption or strict network controls, as the attacker can silently redirect traffic.

Even though middleBrick does not perform internal architecture analysis, it checks for insecure exposure during scans. The tool tests whether unauthenticated endpoints are discoverable and whether data exposure risks exist. In the context of Adonisjs and Mssql, findings may highlight missing encryption or weak network controls that facilitate interception. The LLM/AI Security checks do not apply here, but the scanner’s standard checks—such as Data Exposure and Encryption—help surface whether credentials or query data are traversing the network in a detectable manner.

Developers should treat Arp Spoofing as a network-level concern but reinforce it with application-side practices. Using encrypted connections, validating server certificates, and ensuring strict network boundaries reduce the likelihood of successful interception. The scanner’s actionable findings can guide these improvements by identifying missing encryption settings or improper configuration in the Adonisjs Mssql setup.

To mitigate Arp Spoofing risks in Adonisjs when connecting to Mssql, enforce encryption and validate server identity. Adonisjs uses the @mssql/mssql driver, and the configuration should explicitly require encrypted connections. Below is a secure configuration example that ensures TLS is used and hostnames are verified.

// config/database.ts
import { MssqlConnectionConfig } from '@ioc:Adonisjs/Mssql'

const config: MssqlConnectionConfig = {
  host: process.env.MSSQL_HOST || '127.0.0.1',
  port: parseInt(process.env.MSSQL_PORT || '1433'),
  user: process.env.MSSQL_USER || 'sa',
  password: process.env.MSSQL_PASSWORD || 'strong_password',
  database: process.env.MSSQL_DATABASE || 'app_db',
  options: {
    encrypt: true,
    trustServerCertificate: false,
    serverHostname: process.env.MSSQL_HOST || 'localhost',
  },
}

export default config

This configuration forces encrypted communication and disables trusting any certificate presented by the server, which is critical to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks like Arp Spoofing. Ensure that the Mssql instance has a valid certificate issued by a trusted authority. In environments with strict compliance requirements, additional controls such as network segmentation and host-based firewalls should complement these settings.

For runtime validation, you can add a simple test script to verify the connection properties before starting the application. This helps catch misconfigurations early and ensures that encryption is always enforced.

// scripts/validate-mssql-config.ts
import { Connection } from '@mssql/mssql'
import config from '../app.config'

async function verifyEncryption() {
  const pool = new Connection(config)
  try {
    await pool.connect()
    const result = await pool.request().query('SELECT 1 AS secure_check')
    console.log('Mssql connection is encrypted and valid:', result.recordset)
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Mssql configuration issue:', error)
    process.exit(1)
  } finally {
    await pool.close()
  }
}

verifyEncryption()

Running this script during development and deployment confirms that encryption is active and that the application is not inadvertently accepting unencrypted connections. Combined with network-level protections, these code-level changes significantly reduce the attack surface for Arp Spoofing.