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Background

In a standard 48-bit MAC address, the 7th (most significant) bit specifies whether it is a universally-administered address (UAA) or a locally-administered address (LAA).

If it is 0, then the MAC address is a UAA and specifiesthe first 24-bits are the organizationally-unique identifier (OUI) of the manufacturer of the network interface card (NIC). 

If it is 1, then it specifies the MAC address is just an LAA.

Question

Many drivers and NIC's often allow users to modify the MAC address of their device.

But, it seems Windows does notnot allow modifying mac addresses to universal ones (i.e., UAA's): https://superuser.com/questions/1265544/

What is the reason for this restriction? Are there security implications if this was not the case? Or, perhaps, is this merely just to prevent someone from spoofing a device as some legitimate company's network communications product? (to their ISP)

Background

In a standard 48-bit MAC address, the 7th (most significant) bit specifies whether it is a universally-administered address (UAA) or a locally-administered address (LAA).

If it is 0, then the MAC address is a UAA and specifies the organizationally-unique identifier (OUI) of the manufacturer of the network interface card (NIC). If it is 1, then it specifies the MAC address is an LAA.

Question

Many drivers and NIC's often allow users to modify the MAC address of their device.

But, it seems Windows does not allow modifying mac addresses to universal ones (i.e., UAA's): https://superuser.com/questions/1265544/

What is the reason for this restriction? Are there security implications if this was not the case? Or, perhaps, is this merely just to prevent someone from spoofing a device as some legitimate company's network communications product? (to their ISP)

Background

In a standard 48-bit MAC address, the 7th (most significant) bit specifies whether it is a universally-administered address (UAA) or a locally-administered address (LAA).

If it is 0, then the MAC address is a UAA and the first 24-bits are the organizationally-unique identifier (OUI) of the manufacturer of the network interface card (NIC). 

If it is 1, then the MAC address is just an LAA.

Question

Many drivers and NIC's often allow users to modify the MAC address of their device.

But, it seems Windows does not allow modifying mac addresses to universal ones (i.e., UAA's): https://superuser.com/questions/1265544/

What is the reason for this restriction? Are there security implications if this was not the case? Or, perhaps, is this merely just to prevent someone from spoofing a device as some legitimate company's network communications product? (to their ISP)

Source Link
ManRow
ManRow
  • 425
  • 1
  • 4
  • 10

Are there security reasons for prohibiting universal mac address modification?

Background

In a standard 48-bit MAC address, the 7th (most significant) bit specifies whether it is a universally-administered address (UAA) or a locally-administered address (LAA).

If it is 0, then the MAC address is a UAA and specifies the organizationally-unique identifier (OUI) of the manufacturer of the network interface card (NIC). If it is 1, then it specifies the MAC address is an LAA.

Question

Many drivers and NIC's often allow users to modify the MAC address of their device.

But, it seems Windows does not allow modifying mac addresses to universal ones (i.e., UAA's): https://superuser.com/questions/1265544/

What is the reason for this restriction? Are there security implications if this was not the case? Or, perhaps, is this merely just to prevent someone from spoofing a device as some legitimate company's network communications product? (to their ISP)