Purpose of ICMP mode in the Packet Generator Tool

The purpose of this tool is to give you a way to craft an ICMP packet or set of ICMP packets to send to a target, then observe the target's response with a packet capturing tool like Packet Capture or view the results of those packets attacks in the log files on the target. For example, you might alter a ICMP packet with information that is not usually found in the packet in order to see the response of a program or firewall to the malformed packet.

About crafting and sending ICMP packets using the Packet Generator

The Packet Generator tool has an ICMP mode that allows you to create and send one or more ICMP packets to a target. You have full control over the header flags and the other fields within the ICMP header. You can add a payload either in the form of text or of a file to the packet. This tool currently sends packets with IPv4 headers. IPv6 will be coming soon.


There are 41 Types of ICMP packets (see 'Packet Types and Screenshots' for the full list) that we can generate along with several Codes (subtypes) depending on the Type selected. For example Type 8 is an Echo Request typically sent to a target during a Ping and Type 0 is the Echo Reply you would receive back from the target


Scripted packet transmission can be used to send multiple different UDP packets.


Related Tool Links

Packet Generator

Packet Generator Screenshot
Important Notes about the Packet Generator
  • This tool uses WinPcap to send packets. The network interface you use to send packets must be compatible with WinPcap. Best results are usually obtained from a wired ethernet interface or a 802.11 wireless interface.
  • This tool does not send packets at a rate necessary to stress or otherwise saturate an interface. It is not a high speed Traffic Generator and it does not respond to packets coming back. Please consider the Packet Flooder Tool.

Packet Generator Tool Capabilities - ICMP Mode


  • Sends ICMP Packets to the IPv4 address specified.
  • Full header control for the ICMP packet. You can specify most parameters in the header such as source and destination IPv4 address, packet length, packet types and checksums. The ethernet source and destination address can also be defined.
  • Data Payloads can be added. The payload can be simple text or a file of your choosing. The length of the data payload is limited by the interface MTU and the packet type. We provide a Hex Editor to assist in creating or editing binary packet payloads.
  • The packet size is limited to the MTU of your network, typically 1460 bytes for ethernet.
  • Scripting. Simple scripting is provided so that you can send different types packets. Scripted packet transmission can be used to send packets with parameters changing according to your script.

Types of ICMP Packets Generated

0 - Echo Reply
1 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
2 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
3 - Destination Unreachable
4 - Source Quench
5 - Redirect Message
6 - Alternate Host Address - short hdr add payload
7 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
8 - Echo Request
9 - Router Advertisement
10 - Router Solicitation
11 - Time Exceeded
12 - Parameter Problem
13 - Timestamp
14 - Timestamp Reply
15 - Information Request
16 - Information Reply
17 - Address Mask Request
18 - Address Mask Reply
19 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
20 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
21 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
22 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
23 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
24 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
25 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
26 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
27 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
28 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
29 - Reserved - short hdr add payload
30 - Traceroute
31 - Datagram Conversion Error - short hdr add payload
32 - Mobile Host Redirect - short hdr add payload
33 - IPv6 Where-Are-You - short hdr add payload
34 - IPv6 Here-I-Am - short hdr add payload
35 - Mobile Registration Request - short hdr add payload
36 - Mobile Registration Reply - short hdr add payload
37 - Domain Name Request
38 - Domain Name Reply- standard hdr add payload
39 - SKIP Algorithm Discovery Protocol - short hdr add payload
40 - Photuris - short hdr add payload
41 - ICMP for experimental mobility protocols - short hdr add payload

ICMP Send Mode

Packet Generator ICMP Packet Definition Screenshot

Capture of ICMP echo request and replies

ICMP Packet Generator Screenshot

A video of the Packet Generator tool sending ARP Packets

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This tool uses WinPcap to send specialized packets.