# Static & Default Routing

> Learn how routers forward traffic using static and default routes, and why misconfigured routing is a goldmine for attackers mapping internal networks.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/rooms/static-default-routing
Last updated: 2026-09-01

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Beginner |
| Category | Networking |
| Lessons | 5 |
| Estimated time | 30 min |
| XP | 200 |

This module breaks down how packets actually get from one network to another when there's no dynamic routing protocol doing the work. You'll learn what a routing table is, how the kernel decides which interface to send a packet out of, the difference between a static route and a default route (gateway of last resort), and how administrators configure these by hand on Linux, Windows, and Cisco IOS devices.

From an offensive perspective, understanding static and default routing is foundational to network pivoting, lateral movement, and post-exploitation network mapping. You'll see how a misconfigured default route can expose internal segments to the internet, how attackers use traceroute, ip route, and route print to fingerprint network topology, and why routing misconfigurations are a common finding in internal penetration tests.

By the end of this module, you will be able to read and interpret a routing table on any major OS, manually configure static routes, explain the packet forwarding decision process step by step, and identify routing-related misconfigurations during a network assessment.

## Lessons

1. What Is Routing and Why Does It Matter (30 min)
2. Building and Reading a Routing Table (30 min)
3. Configuring Static Routes (30 min)
4. Default Routes & Route Summarization (30 min)
5. Guided Lab: Static Routing Between Multiple Subnets (30 min)

## Related

- [Learning path: Routing & Switching Fundamentals](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/routing-switching-fundamentals)
- [All rooms](https://codelivly.com/rooms)