IT audit examines password details to ensure security and compliance.
IT audit examines password details to ensure security and compliance.
Hash functions work in a predictable way. Even though they appear random, they process the same input every time. Sending plaintext passwords or hashed passwords is risky because it exposes the underlying data. The main purpose of hashing is to verify integrity without revealing the original value. Including a cleartext step adds unnecessary vulnerability, especially if sensitive information is stored in memory outside the client device.
If the system requires a hash for verification, attackers can easily provide it and gain access without trying every possibility. There’s no reason for manual guessing if the method already works.
This situation is distinct from what we're talking about. If a malicious party had direct access to the server, it's likely encryption keys are either visible or ignored. Sending encrypted plaintext of my password would give them my actual password. Sharing an encrypted hash of my password reveals only the hash value, not the password itself. In either case, they could potentially use that information to verify my account on this system. The value lies in knowing a password so they can test it across various authentication platforms. Under good design, hashes are salted for each app, and sending them to another service won't work unless using the same salt. My idea is that domain controllers keep passwords as salted hashes, receiving only encrypted versions via secure channels like TLS/SSL—making it hard for auditors to detect if plaintext wasn't sent or if brute-forcing was attempted.
Based on my research, they probably capture data while it's unencrypted in plaintext, either through local software tools or by altering the system to require passwords for access. Most likely, this mirrors common IT practices where organizations exaggerate their security measures to pressure staff into following rules they can't realistically enforce.
Well, I'll take it. It turned out they simply looked up the definition. That's pretty cool.