Incident: 'Hackers Crack 16-Character Passwords in Less Than an Hour'

Published Date: 2013-05-28

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident of hackers cracking 16-character passwords in less than an hour happened around May 2013 based on the publication date of the article [18962].
System The software failure incident described in the article was primarily due to weaknesses in the password hashing and security systems. The systems that failed in this incident include: 1. Password hashing system: The hashing system used to store passwords failed to adequately protect the passwords, allowing hackers to crack a significant number of hashed passwords [18962]. 2. Cryptographic salt implementation: The use of cryptographic salt to enhance password security failed to prevent the cracking of passwords, indicating potential weaknesses in the salt generation or application [18962]. 3. Password complexity and strength enforcement: The incident revealed weaknesses in enforcing password complexity and strength requirements, as even 16-character passwords were cracked easily [18962]. 4. Brute-force attack vulnerability: The system was vulnerable to brute-force attacks, allowing hackers to systematically try all possible combinations of characters to crack passwords [18962]. 5. Lack of robust password policies: The incident highlighted potential shortcomings in the password policies and practices employed by the system, leading to the successful cracking of a large number of passwords [18962]. Overall, the failure of these systems and components contributed to the security breach and the successful cracking of a significant number of passwords by hackers.
Responsible Organization 1. Hackers working for the website Ars Technica were responsible for causing the software failure incident [18962].
Impacted Organization 1. Users who had their passwords cracked by the hackers [18962]
Software Causes 1. The software failure incident was caused by weak password security measures, allowing hackers to crack a significant number of supposedly random and hashed passwords [18962].
Non-software Causes 1. Lack of strong password policies and enforcement [Article 18962] 2. Weak password choices by users [Article 18962] 3. Insufficient password hashing and salting techniques [Article 18962]
Impacts 1. The software failure incident led to the compromise of over 14,800 supposedly random passwords out of a list of 16,449, with success rates for hackers ranging from 62% to 90% [18962]. 2. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of hashed passwords, as hackers were able to crack passwords, including 16-character versions, in less than an hour using various techniques such as brute-force attacks and hybrid attacks [18962]. 3. The compromised passwords included a mix of weak and strong passwords, indicating that users often use similar or identical passwords for different sites, making them susceptible to hacking [18962]. 4. The incident demonstrated the importance of using strong, unique passwords and implementing additional security measures such as cryptographic salt to make passwords harder to crack [18962].
Preventions 1. Implementing stronger password policies such as requiring longer passwords with a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters could have prevented the software failure incident [18962]. 2. Using cryptographic salt to make passwords harder to crack by adding random characters to passwords during the hashing process could have enhanced security and prevented the incident [18962]. 3. Regularly updating password hashing algorithms and security measures to stay ahead of evolving hacking techniques could have helped prevent the software failure incident [18962].
Fixes 1. Implementing stronger password policies such as requiring longer passwords, using a mix of characters, and avoiding common or easily guessable passwords [18962]. 2. Utilizing cryptographic salt to make passwords harder to crack by adding random characters or numbers during the hashing process [18962]. 3. Enhancing password hashing techniques to make it more difficult for attackers to reverse engineer hashed passwords back to plaintext passwords [18962]. 4. Regularly updating and strengthening password security measures based on the latest hacking techniques and technologies [18962].
References 1. The articles gather information about the software failure incident from the hacking experiment conducted by a team of hackers for the technology website Ars Technica [18962].

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization: Jeremi Gosney, the founder and CEO of Stricture Consulting Group, conducted an experiment where he managed to crack a large number of hashed passwords using various techniques including brute-force attacks and hybrid attacks. This incident showcases the vulnerability of passwords and the potential risks associated with weak password security measures [18962]. (b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization: The article mentions that the hackers used a wordlist created from the 2009 breach of the online games service RockYou to crack passwords. This indicates that similar password security vulnerabilities have been exploited in different organizations, as the same list of passwords was used to crack passwords in this incident as well [18962].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident related to the development phase of design can be seen in the article. The incident involved a team of hackers successfully cracking more than 14,800 supposedly random passwords out of a list of 16,449 as part of a hacking experiment for a technology website [18962]. This failure highlights a vulnerability in the design of the password hashing and storage system, allowing hackers to exploit weaknesses in the system's development. (b) The software failure incident related to the development phase of operation is evident in the article as well. The hackers used various techniques such as brute-force attacks, hybrid attacks, and Markov chains to crack hashed passwords, showcasing the failure introduced by the operation or misuse of the password system [18962]. This failure emphasizes the importance of secure operational practices to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident in the article is primarily due to weaknesses within the system itself. The incident involved hackers successfully cracking a large number of supposedly random and hashed passwords from a list of 16,449 passwords. The hackers used various techniques such as brute-force attacks, hybrid attacks, and Markov chains to crack the passwords stored within the system [18962]. (b) outside_system: The software failure incident does not seem to be primarily caused by factors originating from outside the system. The incident of hackers cracking the passwords was a result of vulnerabilities and weaknesses within the system's password hashing and storage mechanisms, rather than external factors beyond the system's control [18962].
Nature (Human/Non-human) human_actions (a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions: - The software failure incident in this case was not due to non-human actions but rather due to the successful hacking attempts by a team of hackers who managed to crack a large number of supposedly random passwords [18962]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions: - The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to human actions, specifically the actions of the hackers who used various techniques such as brute-force attacks, hybrid attacks, and Markov chains to crack the hashed passwords [18962].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware: - The articles do not mention any software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware. Hence, there is no information available regarding a software failure incident caused by hardware issues. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to software: - The software failure incident discussed in the articles is related to the compromise of passwords by hackers. This incident is a result of vulnerabilities in the software systems used for hashing and storing passwords. The hackers were able to exploit weaknesses in the hashing algorithms and password storage methods to crack a significant number of passwords [18962].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involved a team of hackers who managed to crack more than 14,800 supposedly random passwords out of a list of 16,449 as part of a hacking experiment for a technology website [18962]. The hackers used various techniques such as brute-force attacks, hybrid attacks, wordlists, rainbow tables, and Markov chains to crack the hashed passwords and obtain plain-text passwords. The hackers' objective was to demonstrate the vulnerability of hashed passwords and the ease with which they could be cracked, highlighting the security risks associated with weak password practices. Additionally, the hackers' success rate ranged from 62% to 90%, with one hacker managing to crack 90% of the hashed passwords in less than an hour using a computer cluster [18962]. This deliberate and targeted effort to crack passwords demonstrates a malicious intent to breach security measures and gain unauthorized access to user accounts. Therefore, the software failure incident described in the articles is primarily malicious in nature, involving intentional actions by hackers to compromise the security of the system and access sensitive information.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions can be inferred from the articles. The incident of hackers cracking 16-character passwords in less than an hour ([18962]) highlights a failure due to poor decisions. The use of weak passwords by users and potentially inadequate password security measures implemented by the website or service contributed to the success of the hacking experiment. This failure can be attributed to the poor decision-making regarding password strength requirements and security protocols.
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence (a) The software failure incident occurring due to development incompetence: - The incident of hackers cracking 14,800 supposedly random passwords out of a list of 16,449 was a result of a hacking experiment conducted by a team of hackers for a technology website [18962]. - The success rate for each hacker ranged from 62% to 90%, indicating a significant breach in the security of the hashed passwords [18962]. - The hackers used various techniques such as brute-force attacks, hybrid attacks, and Markov chains to crack the hashed passwords, showcasing the vulnerabilities in the password security system [18962]. (b) The software failure incident occurring accidentally: - The incident of hackers successfully cracking a large number of hashed passwords was not accidental but a deliberate hacking experiment conducted by a team of hackers for a technology website [18962]. - The hackers employed sophisticated techniques and tools to crack the passwords, indicating a deliberate and targeted effort to exploit the security vulnerabilities [18962]. - The use of a 25-computer cluster capable of making 350 billion guesses per second to crack passwords further highlights the intentional nature of the hacking activity [18962].
Duration unknown The articles do not provide information about a software failure incident being either permanent or temporary.
Behaviour value, other (a) crash: The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to a crash. (b) omission: The software failure incident related to omission is not explicitly mentioned in the articles. (c) timing: The software failure incident related to timing is not explicitly mentioned in the articles. (d) value: The software failure incident related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly is evident in the article where hackers managed to crack more than 14,800 supposedly random passwords out of a list of 16,449, showcasing a failure in the system's ability to securely store and protect passwords [18962]. (e) byzantine: The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to a byzantine behavior. (f) other: The software failure incident related to the system's inability to prevent hackers from cracking a significant number of passwords, despite using hashing and cryptographic salt techniques, could be categorized as a failure in security measures and protection mechanisms [18962].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence theoretical_consequence The consequence of the software failure incident described in the articles is primarily related to the potential consequences discussed rather than actual observed consequences. The articles focus on the security implications of weak passwords and the ability of hackers to crack them, leading to a theoretical consequence of compromised accounts and potential unauthorized access to sensitive information. There is no specific mention of real observed consequences such as death, physical harm, impact on basic needs, property loss, delays, or harm to non-human entities due to the software failure incident reported in the articles [18962].
Domain information, finance (a) The failed system in the reported incident was related to the information industry, specifically the technology sector. The software failure incident involved a hacking experiment conducted by a team of hackers for a technology website, Ars Technica. The hackers managed to crack a significant number of hashed passwords, highlighting vulnerabilities in password security systems used by online platforms [Article 18962]. (h) Additionally, the software failure incident is relevant to the finance industry as it pertains to password security and the protection of sensitive financial information. The hacking experiment conducted by the hackers for Ars Technica exposed weaknesses in password hashing methods, which are crucial for safeguarding financial data and preventing unauthorized access to financial accounts [Article 18962]. (m) The incident is also related to the cybersecurity industry, which focuses on protecting systems, networks, and data from cyber threats. The hacking experiment and the successful cracking of hashed passwords demonstrate the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches [Article 18962].

Sources

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