Developed by Laboratorium in Poland, the M5MonsterC5 is an ESP32-C5-based “Marauder” hacking tool designed to work with M5Stack Cardputer ADV or M5Stack Tab5. It gets connected to the Cardputer ADV or Tab5 via a Grove connector and runs JanOS and Project Zero for wireless security research, experimentation, and rapid prototyping with minimal setup.
Built around the ESP32-C5, the device supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4/5-GHz) and 802.15.4 (Thread/Zigbee) to the M5Stack devices. Key features include multi-channel deauthentication with 5 GHz support, Evil Twin and phishing captive portals, WPA3 SAE overflow attacks, wardriving with GPS logging and WiGLE-compatible exports, passive sniffing, Karma attacks, whitelist management, and persistent “blackout” modes. The platform uses a two-stage web-based flashing process (JanOS on the Monster board and a Cardputer app flasher), offers microSD card and optional GPS support, and is intended strictly for authorized Wi-Fi auditing, offensive security research, and educational use under the Project Zero framework.
M5MonsterC5 specifications:
- Main module – ESP32-C5-WROOM-1U
- SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-C5
- CPU
- Single-core 32-bit RISC-V processor @ up to 240 MHz
- Low-power RISC-V core @ 40 MHz acting as the main processor for power-sensitive applications
- Memory – 384 KB SRAM on-chip
- Storage – 320 KB ROM
- Connectivity
- Dual-band (2.4/5 GHz) 802.11ax WiFi 6, 802.11b/g/n WiFi 4 backward compatibility
- WiFi modes: Station mode, SoftAP mode, SoftAP + Station mode, and promiscuous mode
- Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy (LE) with Mesh support, up to 2Mbps data rate
- 802.15.4 radio for Zigbee 3.0, Thread 1.3, and Matter up to 250 Kbps
- CPU
- Storage – 4 MB SPI flash (TBC)
- External antenna connector (U.FL, MHF I, or AMC connector)
- SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-C5
- Storage – Micro SD card slot
- Wireless
- WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and 802.15.4 radio via ESP32-C5
- Onboard GPS port for M5Stack GPS module
- USB – USB Type-C port for power and programming
- Expansion
- 2x 15-pin GPIO header for SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, DAC…
- Connectors for GPS, IN, and Out
- Misc
- Boot and Reset Button
- WS2812B LED
- optional GPS via the GPS expansion port
- Dimensions – TBD
- Case – 3D printed enclosure with external antenna support via SMA connector
On the software side, the system uses a split design based on JanOS, which is part of the Project Zero framework. Instead of running everything in a single firmware, tasks are divided between devices. The ESP32-C5 on the M5MonsterC5 handles all the Wi-Fi work, such as 5 GHz packet injection, sniffing, and WPA3 SAE overflow testing. The M5Stack Cardputer runs a separate application that provides the user interface, displays data, and sends commands to the ESP32-C5. This approach keeps the UI responsive even when heavy operations like multi-channel deauthentication or Evil Twin attacks are running. The project is fully open-source, with firmware, documentation, and a web-based flashing tool available on the C5Lab GitHub repository. More information is available on the wiki page hosted on GitHub.
Previously, we have written about various similar hacking and penetration testing tool such as the ESP32 Marauder – Double Barrel 5G, which supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi scanning using the Realtek RTL8720DN chipset, deauthentication, along with a dedicated GPS receiver and a CC1101 Sub-GHz (433 MHz) transceiver. So the M5MonsterC5 is not the first dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi security tool, but as far as we know, it’s the first based on ESP32-C5, and by separating the radio from the user interface, it keeps the system stable and responsive during heavy attack or scanning operations.
The M5MonsterC5 ESP32-C5 hacking tool is currently listed on Tindie for $55.00, which includes the PCBA, a Wi-Fi cable/antenna, and the preloaded JanOS firmware. A “Full Kit” option is also available that includes a custom 3D-printed case.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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