Attack TechniquesHigh
Password Cracking
The process of recovering passwords from data stored or transmitted by computer systems, often using automated tools and techniques.
Skill Paths:
Penetration TestingPassword SecurityIncident Response
Job Paths:
Penetration TesterSOC AnalystSecurity Engineer
Relevant Certifications:
OSCPCEHCompTIA Security+
Content
Password Cracking
Password cracking is the process of recovering passwords from data stored or transmitted by computer systems. Attackers use automated tools and various techniques to guess or extract passwords, often to gain unauthorized access to systems or data.
Common Methods
- Brute Force: Tries all possible combinations
- Dictionary Attack: Uses lists of common passwords
- Rainbow Tables: Precomputed tables for reversing cryptographic hash functions
- Social Engineering: Manipulating users to reveal passwords
Tools
- John the Ripper
- Hashcat
- Hydra
Prevention
- Strong Password Policies: Require complex, unique passwords
- Salting and Hashing: Secure password storage
- Account Lockout: Limit failed login attempts
- User Education: Train users to recognize social engineering
Detection
- Monitor for unusual login activity
- Use IDS/IPS to detect brute force attempts
- Analyze authentication logs
Related Concepts
- Dictionary Attack: Uses wordlists
- Brute Force Attack: Tries all combinations
- Salting: Enhances password security
Conclusion
Password cracking is a significant threat to information security. Strong password policies, secure storage, and monitoring are essential to defend against these attacks.
Quick Facts
Severity Level
8/10
Methods
Brute force, dictionary, rainbow tables, social engineering
Tools
John the Ripper, Hashcat, Hydra
Prevention
Strong passwords, salting, account lockout
Related Terms