zakirkun Insecure Password Storage
Overview
Storing passwords in plaintext or with weak hashing algorithms like MD5 or SHA-1 (even with a salt) is insecure because:
- Plaintext passwords are immediately exposed in a database breach
- MD5/SHA-1 are too fast — GPU cracking renders them ineffective
- Missing salts allow rainbow table attacks
The correct approach is to use a purpose-built password hashing algorithm: bcrypt, Argon2id, or scrypt.
Detection Strategy
Look for:
- Direct string comparison of passwords (no hashing at all)
- Use of MD5/SHA1/SHA256 for password storage (wrong tool for the job)
- Missing bcrypt/argon2/scrypt usage in authentication code
Remediation
Use bcrypt with a minimum cost factor of 12, or Argon2id.
Vulnerable (Python):
import hashlib
stored = hashlib.md5(password.encode()).hexdigest()
Safe (Python):
import bcrypt
hashed = bcrypt.hashpw(password.encode(), bcrypt.gensalt(rounds=12))