I Cracked My Own Password – A Security Test

The Importance of Robust Password Creation

Establishing a distinct and resilient password for every online account is absolutely essential. However, have you considered the methods employed by malicious actors to compromise even seemingly secure passwords and gain unauthorized access?

Investigating Password Cracking Techniques

To gain insight into the vulnerabilities of various password strategies, an experiment was conducted. Three different passwords were subjected to analysis using a publicly available password-cracking application.

The goal was to determine which password characteristics offer the greatest resistance to cracking attempts and enhance overall password security.

How Passwords Are Compromised

Understanding the techniques used to break passwords is crucial for building stronger defenses. Hackers don't simply guess randomly; they leverage sophisticated tools and strategies.

• Dictionary Attacks: These involve trying common words and phrases.
• Brute-Force Attacks: These systematically attempt every possible combination of characters.
• Credential Stuffing: Utilizing previously compromised usernames and passwords.

The experiment aimed to illustrate how these attacks function in practice and the effectiveness of different password choices against them.

Experiment Findings and Password Security

The results of testing the passwords against the open-source tool revealed key insights into password strength. Factors such as length, complexity, and the inclusion of varied character types significantly impacted the time required to crack each password.

A longer password, incorporating a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, proved considerably more resistant to cracking than shorter, simpler alternatives.

Ultimately, the study underscores the necessity of proactive measures to protect your online accounts through the creation of strong, unique passwords.

What Is Password Cracking?

When establishing an account with an online platform, your login credentials are typically encrypted by the service provider on their servers. This process utilizes an algorithm to generate a "hash," which appears as a random sequence of characters and numbers specifically linked to your chosen password.

While it may seem random, the hash is actually a deterministic string created solely by your password. However, to those unfamiliar with the process, it presents as an unintelligible jumble.

Generating a hash from a password is computationally faster than reversing the process to recover the original password. Consequently, in the event of a password file breach, malicious actors employ password cracking techniques to decipher its contents.

Hackers establish a system that accepts potential passwords as input, encrypts them using the same hashing method as the compromised server, and then compares the resulting hashes against the stolen password database.

A match between a potential password’s hash and an entry within the database confirms that the attempted password is correct.

How Password Cracking Works

The core principle behind password cracking involves attempting to reproduce the original hash value. This is achieved through various methods, including:

• Brute-Force Attacks: Systematically trying every possible combination of characters until a match is found.
• Dictionary Attacks: Utilizing a list of commonly used passwords and variations.
• Rainbow Table Attacks: Employing pre-computed tables of hashes to accelerate the cracking process.

The success of these attacks depends heavily on the strength of the password. Strong passwords, which are long, complex, and unique, are significantly more resistant to cracking.

Protecting Yourself from Password Cracking

Several measures can be taken to mitigate the risk of your passwords being compromised:

• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid easily guessable passwords and reuse across multiple accounts.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security beyond just a password.
• Use a Password Manager: Securely store and generate complex passwords.
• Be Wary of Phishing Attempts: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing your credentials to untrusted sources.

By implementing these practices, you can substantially reduce your vulnerability to password cracking and protect your online accounts.

Unlocking Passwords: A HashCat Demonstration

Let's examine the process of password cracking using passwords I’ve deliberately created. The tool employed for this demonstration is Hashcat, a freely available and open-source password recovery program.

The following passwords will be subjected to cracking attempts:

• 123456: Widely recognized as a remarkably insecure choice, 123456 remains a prevalent password globally. NordPass data indicates its use in approximately 3 million accounts, including 1.2 million corporate accounts.
• Susan48!: This password exemplifies a common approach to password creation, attempting to balance security with memorability. However, despite adhering to typical password guidelines, vulnerabilities exist.
• t9^kJ$2q9a: Generated via Bitwarden, this password adheres to strong password practices. It’s a 10-character string incorporating uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

To simulate a real-world scenario, these passwords were encrypted using the MD5 hashing algorithm. The resulting hash values represent how passwords are typically stored in compromised databases:

• 123456: e10adc3949ba59abbe56e057f20f883e
• Susan48!: df1ce7227606805745ee6cbc644ecbe4
• t9^kJ$2q9a: 450e4e0ad3ed8766cb2ba83081c0a625

The cracking process will now commence.

Initiating the Cracking Process

Hashcat offers a variety of attack modes. The specific method chosen will depend on the complexity of the password and the available resources.

For the '123456' password, a simple brute-force attack is sufficient due to its low complexity. This involves systematically trying every possible combination of characters.

Analyzing Password Vulnerabilities

The 'Susan48!' password, while seemingly more secure, is susceptible to dictionary attacks and rule-based attacks. These methods leverage common passwords and variations.

Rule-based attacks apply transformations to dictionary words, such as adding numbers or symbols, to generate potential passwords.

The Strength of Generated Passwords

The password 't9^kJ$2q9a', created by Bitwarden, presents a significantly greater challenge to crack. Its length and character diversity make brute-force attacks impractical.

However, even strong passwords are not entirely invulnerable, particularly if they are compromised in a data breach and the hash is exposed.

Conclusion

This demonstration highlights the importance of strong, unique passwords. While tools like Hashcat can crack weak passwords quickly, robust passwords generated by password managers offer a substantial layer of security.

Regular password updates and the avoidance of easily guessable patterns are crucial for protecting online accounts.

Employing a Dictionary Attack for Password Cracking

Let's begin by demonstrating a dictionary attack, a frequently utilized technique in password compromise scenarios. This method involves utilizing a list of prospective passwords and employing Hashcat to convert them into their MD5 hash equivalents. The aim is to identify any matches against a set of pre-defined encrypted passwords.

For this demonstration, the "rockyou.txt" file will serve as the dictionary. This file is notable for being associated with one of the largest password breaches in recorded history.

Initiating the Cracking Process

To commence the cracking procedure, navigate to the directory where Hashcat is installed. Right-click within the folder and select Open in Terminal. This will open a terminal window positioned within the Hashcat directory.

With the Terminal active and correctly set, the Hashcat application is invoked using the following command:

.\hashcat -m 0 -a 0 passwordfile.txt rockyou.txt -o results.txt

Let's break down the components of this command:

• .\hashcat: This initiates the Hashcat application.
• -m 0: This parameter specifies the encryption algorithm to be used. MD5 is designated as number 0 within the Hashcat documentation.
• -a 0: This defines the attack mode. The Hashcat documentation identifies the dictionary attack as mode 0.
• passwordfile.txt rockyou.txt: The first file, 'passwordfile.txt', contains the encrypted passwords targeted for cracking. The second file, 'rockyou.txt', represents the extensive rockyou password database.
• -o results.txt: This option designates the output file where the successfully cracked passwords will be stored, in this case, a text file named "results.txt".

Despite the substantial size of the rockyou.txt file, Hashcat completed the process in a mere six seconds. The resulting output file indicated that the password "123456" had been successfully cracked.

However, the passwords "Susan" and "Bitwarden" remained uncompromised. This outcome is attributable to the fact that "123456" was present within the rockyou.txt database, having been previously exposed in a data breach. Conversely, "Susan" and "Bitwarden" were sufficiently unique to withstand this particular attack.

Employing Advanced Brute Force Techniques with Masked Attacks

Dictionary-based password attacks rely on matching passwords against pre-existing lists. While efficient, their effectiveness is limited to passwords already included within those lists. Consequently, for thorough password testing, brute force attacks are necessary.

Unlike dictionary attacks which iterate through a defined set of possibilities, brute force attacks systematically attempt every conceivable character combination. This approach is computationally intensive and time-consuming, but ultimately capable of cracking any password. However, as will be demonstrated, the time required can be substantial.

Illustrative Brute Force Command

The following command was utilized to execute a fundamental brute force attack:

.\hashcat -m 0 -a 3 target.txt --increment ?a?a?a?a?a?a?a?a?a?a -o output.txt

Let's break down the function of each component:

• -a 3: This parameter specifies the attack mode. Hashcat’s documentation identifies brute force attacks as mode number 3, thus invoking this functionality.
• target.txt: This file contains the encrypted password designated for cracking.
• --increment: This instructs Hashcat to sequentially test passwords of increasing length, starting with one character and progressing until the correct password is found.
• ?a?a?a?a?a?a?a?a?a?a: This represents a “mask.” Masks allow precise control over the character set used at each position within the password. Each question mark denotes a character position, while the letter defines the characters to be tested. The letter "a" encompasses uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, effectively instructing Hashcat to try all possibilities at every position.
• -o output.txt: This designates the output file where cracked passwords will be saved, in this case, a text file named "output."

Even utilizing this broad mask, the password "123456" was successfully cracked within 15 seconds. Despite its widespread use, this password exhibits significant weakness.

The password "Susan48!" proved considerably more resilient—initial estimations indicated a cracking time of four days. However, a key vulnerability existed. As previously noted, the "Susan" password suffers from inherent flaws.

Exploiting Predictable Password Construction

Password creators often employ predictable patterns when constructing passwords. For instance, a user might begin with a base word like "susan" and subsequently add capital letters and numbers to meet complexity requirements. To aid memorization, the first letter may be capitalized, and numbers appended to the end. The addition of a symbol, prompted by a login service, might then be added as a final step.

This predictability can be leveraged by refining the mask to focus Hashcat’s efforts on specific character sets at designated positions. The following mask utilizes "?u" for uppercase letters, "?l" for lowercase letters, and "?a" for any character:

.\hashcat -m 0 -a 3 -1 ?a target.txt ?u?l?l?l?l?a?a?a -o output.txt

Employing this targeted mask, Hashcat successfully cracked the password in just three minutes and ten seconds—a significant improvement over the initial four-day estimate.

The Bitwarden password, being ten characters long and devoid of discernible patterns, necessitates a full brute-force attack without masking. However, attempting this resulted in an error from Hashcat, indicating that the number of potential combinations exceeded the system’s integer limit. According to IT Security Guru, cracking the Bitwarden password would require approximately three years, which is deemed sufficient for security purposes.

Safeguarding Your Accounts: A Guide to Password Security

What conclusions can be drawn from recent security tests? The primary obstacles encountered when attempting to compromise a Bitwarden password were its substantial length – ten characters – and its inherent randomness. Consequently, when creating passwords, prioritize maximizing their length and incorporating a diverse mix of symbols, numerals, and uppercase letters.

This strategy effectively hinders attackers from employing masking techniques to anticipate the placement of individual elements, significantly increasing the difficulty of successful cracking attempts.

Familiar advice regarding password creation, such as utilizing a broad character set and maximizing length, is often given. Understanding the rationale behind these recommendations is crucial; they represent the critical distinction between a vulnerable and a secure password.

Key Strategies for Strong Passwords

• Length Matters: Longer passwords require exponentially more computational power to crack.
• Embrace Randomness: Avoid predictable patterns, personal information, or dictionary words.
• Character Diversity: Integrate a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

The complexity of a password directly correlates with its resistance to cracking. A password that is both lengthy and unpredictable presents a formidable challenge to even sophisticated hacking tools.

By implementing these simple yet effective techniques, users can substantially enhance the security of their online accounts and mitigate the risk of unauthorized access.