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Cisco Password Recovery - A Complete Guide




Password Cracker Cisco: How to Recover, Decrypt, and Secure Your Cisco Passwords




If you are a network administrator or engineer who works with Cisco devices, you know how important it is to protect your passwords. Passwords are used to access different modes and functions of Cisco devices, such as privileged EXEC mode, configuration mode, console port, vty lines, enable secret, user accounts, RADIUS keys, TACACS+ keys, and more. Losing or forgetting your passwords can cause serious problems, such as losing access to your device, losing your configuration, or exposing your network to unauthorized users.


Fortunately, there are ways to recover, decrypt, and secure your Cisco passwords using various tools and methods. In this article, you will learn how to use password cracker cisco to perform these tasks. You will also learn some best practices and recommendations for password security on Cisco devices.




password cracker cisco




Introduction




What is password cracking and why is it important?




Password cracking is the process of finding out a password by using different techniques, such as guessing, brute force, dictionary attack, rainbow table attack, cryptanalysis, or reverse engineering. Password cracking can be done for different purposes, such as recovering a lost password, testing the strength of a password, auditing the security of a system, or hacking into a system.


Password cracking is important because bypassing the normal authentication process or accessing the configuration file without loading it. For example, there are password recovery methods that can recover passwords for Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, and access points by using the console port, interrupting the boot process, changing the configuration register, booting from flash, and modifying the passwords.


Password Recovery




How to recover passwords for Cisco routers and switches




If you forget or lose the passwords for your Cisco router or switch, you can use the following steps to recover them:


Step 1: Connect to the console port




You need to connect a terminal or a PC to the console port of the device using a console cable. The console port is usually labeled as CON or CONSOLE on the device. You also need to configure the terminal or the PC with the correct settings, such as baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, and flow control. The default settings for Cisco devices are 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control.


Step 2: Interrupt the boot process




You need to power cycle the device and press CTRL+BREAK or CTRL+C when you see the message "System Bootstrap" or "rommon 1>". This will interrupt the normal boot process and enter ROM monitor mode. ROM monitor mode is a low-level mode that allows you to perform basic tasks such as changing the configuration register, loading an image file, or displaying information about the device.


Step 3: Change the configuration register




You need to change the configuration register to a value that tells the device to ignore the startup configuration file when booting. The configuration register is a 16-bit value that controls various aspects of the device's operation, such as console speed, boot source, and configuration source. The default value for Cisco devices is 0x2102. You can change it to 0x2142 by using the confreg command in ROM monitor mode. For example:


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rommon 1> confreg 0x2142 You must reset or power cycle for new config to take effect rommon 2>


Step 4: Boot from flash without loading the configuration




You need to reboot the device from flash memory without loading the startup configuration file. Flash memory is a non-volatile memory that stores the image file and the configuration file of the device. You can use the reset command in ROM monitor mode to reboot the device. For example:


rommon 2> reset System Bootstrap, Version 12.4(13r)T11 ... Press RETURN to get started! ... Router>


You will see that the device has booted with a default configuration and has entered user EXEC mode with a prompt of Router>. You will also see a message that says "The enable password has not been set."


Step 5: Enter privileged mode and copy the configuration




You need to enter privileged EXEC mode by using the enable command without a password. Privileged EXEC mode allows you to access all commands and configuration modes on the device. You will see that the prompt has changed to Router#. You also need to copy the startup configuration file from flash memory to running memory by using the copy startup-config running-config command. Running memory is a volatile memory that stores the current configuration of the device. This will allow you to view and modify the passwords that are stored in the configuration file. For example:


Router> enable Router# copy startup-config running-config Destination filename [running-config]? ... Router#


Step 6: Identify and change the passwords




You need to identify the passwords that you want to recover or change by using the show running-config command. This command will display the current configuration of the device, including the passwords. You will see that some passwords are encrypted and some are not, depending on the type of password and encryption used. For example:


Router# show running-config ... enable password 7 0822455D0A16 enable secret 5 $1$mERr$hx5rVt7rPNoS4wqbXKX7m0 ... line con 0 password 7 0822455D0A16 ... line vty 0 4 password 7 0822455D0A16 ... username admin privilege 15 password 7 0822455D0A16 ... aaa authentication login default group tacacs+ local tacacs-server key 7 13061E010C0A ...


You can change the passwords by using the appropriate commands in the configuration mode. Configuration mode allows you to modify the configuration of the device. You can enter configuration mode by using the configure terminal command in privileged EXEC mode. You will see that the prompt has changed to Router(config)#. You can then use commands such as enable password, enable secret, line password, username password, or tacacs-server key to change the passwords. You can also use the no keyword before a command to remove a password. For example:


Router# configure terminal Router(config)# enable password cisco123 Router(config)# enable secret cisco456 Router(config)# line con 0 Router(config-line)# no password Router(config-line)# line vty 0 4 Router(config-line)# no password Router(config-line)# username admin privilege 15 password cisco789 Router(config)# aaa authentication login default group tacacs+ local Router(config)# tacacs-server key ciscoABC Router(config)#


Step 7: Restore the configuration register and reload the device




You need to restore the configuration register to its original value by using the config-register command in configuration mode. This will tell the device to load the startup configuration file when booting. You also need to save the changes you made to the running configuration file by using the copy running-config startup-config command in privileged EXEC mode. This will overwrite the startup configuration file with the current configuration file. You then need to reload the device by using the reload command in privileged EXEC mode. This will reboot the device and apply the new passwords. For example:


Router(config)# config-register 0x2102 Router(config)# end Router# copy running-config startup-config Destination filename [startup-config]? ... Router# reload System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: yes Building configuration... ... Proceed with reload? [confirm] ...


You have successfully recovered or changed your passwords for your Cisco router or switch.


How to recover passwords for Cisco firewalls and access points




If you forget or lose the passwords for your Cisco firewall or access point, you can use the following steps to recover them:


Step 1: Connect to the console port




You need to connect a terminal or a PC to the console port of the device using a console cable. The console port is usually labeled as CONSOLE on the device. You also need to configure the terminal or the PC with the correct settings, such as baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, and flow control. The default settings for Cisco devices are 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control.


Step 2: Power cycle the device and press ESC when prompted




You need to power cycle the device and press ESC when you see the message "Use BREAK or ESC to interrupt boot." This will interrupt the normal boot process and enter monitor mode. Monitor mode is a low-level mode that allows you to perform basic tasks such as setting the IP address, downloading an image file, or displaying information about the device.


Step 3: Enter monitor mode and set the IP address and TFTP server




You need to enter monitor mode by using the monitor command in ROM monitor mode. ROM monitor mode is another low-level mode that allows you to access the monitor mode. You also need to set the IP address of the device and the TFTP server that will provide the new image file by using the set command in monitor mode. The TFTP server is a network server that allows you to transfer files using the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP). You need to have a TFTP server running on your network and have a new image file for your device available on the server. For example:


rommon 1> monitor monitor: command "monitor" not found rommon 2> set PS1=rommon ! > GE_PORT=0 RET_2_RTS=13:39:29 UTC Fri Jun 23 2023 BSI=0 RET_2_RCALTS= RANDOM_NUM=1694526224 rommon 3> set IP_ADDRESS 192.168.1.100 rommon 4> set IP_SUBNET_MASK 255.255.255.0 rommon 5> set DEFAULT_GATEWAY 192.168.1.1 rommon 6> set TFTP_SERVER 192.168.1.200 rommon 7> set TFTP_FILE asa982-lfbff-k8.SPA


Step 4: Download a new image file from the TFTP server




You need to download a new image file from the TFTP server by using the tftp command in monitor mode. This will erase the existing image file on the device and replace it with the new one. You need to make sure that the new image file is compatible with your device and has the same name as the old one. For example:


rommon 8> tftp tftp: command "tftp" not found rommon 9> tftpdnld ... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! File reception completed. Copying file ciscoasa/bin/asa982-lfbff-k8.SPA to flash. Erasing current image ... Writing new image ... Verifying new image ... New image installed


Step 5: Boot from the new image file and enter privileged mode




You need to boot from the new image file by using the boot command in monitor mode. This will load the new image file and start the normal boot process. You will see that the device has booted with a default configuration and has entered user EXEC mode with a prompt of ciscoasa>. You also need to enter privileged EXEC mode by using the enable command without a password. You will see that the prompt has changed to ciscoasa#. For example:


rommon 10> boot Launching BootLoader... Boot configuration file contains 1 entry. Loading /ciscoasa/bin/asa982-lfbff-k8.SPA... Booting... Platform ASA5505 ... ciscoasa> enable ciscoasa#


Step 6: Copy the startup configuration to running configuration




You need to copy the startup configuration file from flash memory to running memory by using the copy startup-config running-config command in privileged EXEC mode. This will allow you to view and modify the passwords that are stored in the configuration file. For example:


ciscoasa# copy startup-config running-config Source filename [startup-config]? Destination filename [running-config]? ... ciscoasa#


Step 7: Identify and change the passwords




You need to identify the passwords that you want to recover or change by using the show running-config command in privileged EXEC mode. This command will display the current configuration of the device, including the passwords. You will see that some passwords are encrypted and some are not, depending on the type of password and encryption used. For example:


ciscoasa# show running-config ... enable password 8Ry2YjIyt7RRXU24 encrypted passwd 2KFQnbNIdI.2KYOU encrypted ... username admin password oCn83jdUOqJYwTm6 encrypted privilege 15 ... aaa authentication ssh console LOCAL aaa authentication http console LOCAL aaa authentication serial console LOCAL aaa authentication enable console LOCAL aaa authorization exec authentication-server aaa authorization command LOCAL http server enable http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 inside ssh scopy enable ssh 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 inside ssh timeout 5 ssh version 2 ssh key-exchange group dh-group14-sha1 console timeout 0 threat-detection You can change the passwords by using the appropriate commands in the configuration mode. Configuration mode allows you to modify the configuration of the device. You can enter configuration mode by using the configure terminal command in privileged EXEC mode. You will see that the prompt has changed to ciscoasa(config)#. You can then use commands such as enable password, passwd, username password, or aaa authentication to change the passwords. You can also use the no keyword before a command to remove a password. For example:


ciscoasa# configure terminal ciscoasa(config)# enable password cisco123 ciscoasa(config)# passwd cisco456 ciscoasa(config)# username admin password cisco789 privilege 15 ciscoasa(config)# no aaa authentication ssh console LOCAL ciscoasa(config)# no aaa authentication http console LOCAL ciscoasa(config)# no aaa authentication serial console LOCAL ciscoasa(config)# no aaa authentication enable console LOCAL ciscoasa(config)#


Step 8: Save the configuration and reload the device




You need to save the changes you made to the running configuration file by using the copy running-config startup-config command in privileged EXEC mode. This will overwrite the startup configuration file with the current configuration file. You then need to reload the device by using the reload command in privileged EXEC mode. This will reboot the device and apply the new passwords. For example:


ciscoasa# copy running-config startup-config Source filename [running-config]? Destination filename [startup-config]? ... ciscoasa# reload System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: yes Building configuration... ... Proceed with reload? [confirm] ...


You have successfully recovered or changed your passwords for your Cisco firewall or access point.


Password Decryption




How to decrypt type 7 passwords using online tools or scripts




If you want to decrypt type 7 passwords, which are encrypted using a weak algorithm that can be reversed easily, you can use online tools or scripts that can perform the decryption for you. Here are some examples of type 7 passwords and their plain text equivalents:


Type 7 passwordPlain text password


0822455D0A16cisco


1511021F0725admin


13061E010C0Atacacs


The type 7 encryption algorithm works by using a predefined key of 16 hexadecimal digits and a simple substitution cipher. The first two digits of the type 7 password indicate the index of the key that was used to encrypt the password. The remaining digits are the encrypted password. To decrypt the password, you need to use the same key and reverse the substitution cipher.


There are many online tools and scripts that can decrypt type 7 passwords for you by using this algorithm. Some of them are:


  • : This is an online tool that can decrypt type 7 passwords by entering them in a text box or uploading a file.



  • : This is a Python script that can decrypt type 7 passwords by passing them as arguments or reading them from a file.



  • : This is a C program that can decrypt type 7 passwords by passing them as arguments or reading them from a file.



Here are some screenshots of these tools and scripts in action:


How to decrypt type 5 passwords using brute force or dictionary attacks




If you want to decrypt type 5 passwords, which are hashed using MD5, you cannot use online tools or scripts that can reverse the encryption algorithm, because MD5 is a one-way function that cannot be inverted easily. Instead, you need to use brute force or dictionary attacks to guess the password by trying different combinations of characters or words until you find a match. Brute force attacks try every possible combination of characters, while dictionary attacks try a list of common or likely passwords. Both methods can take a long time and require a lot of computing power, depending on the length and complexity of the password.


Here are some examples of type 5 passwords and their MD5 hashes:


Type 5 passwordMD5 hash


cisco123$1$mERr$hx5rVt7rPNoS4wqbXKX7m0


admin456$1$pdQG$o8nrSzsGXeaduXrjlvKc91


tacacs789$1$w7YN$TcXG8Ehr7T3h4JIMui/7N0


The MD5 hashing algorithm works by taking a password and applying a mathematical function to it, producing a 128-bit value that is unique to that password. To decrypt the password, you need to find another password that produces the same MD5 hash, which is very unlikely but not impossible.


There are various password cracking tools that can decrypt type 5 passwords by using brute force or dictionary attacks, such as John the Ripper, Cain and Abel, Hashcat, etc. Some of them are:


  • : This is a free and open source software that can crack various types of passwords, including type 5 passwords, by using brute force or dictionary attacks. It can run on multiple platforms, such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, etc.



  • : This is a Windows-based software that can crack various types of passwords, including type 5 passwords, by using brute force or dictionary attacks. It can also perform other network security tasks, such as sniffing, analyzing, and cracking encrypted protocols.



  • : This is a free and open source software that can crack various types of passwords, including type 5 passwords, by using brute force or dictionary attacks. It can run on multiple platforms, such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, etc. It can also use GPU acceleration to speed up the cracking process.



Here are some screenshots of these tools in action:


Password Security




How to secure your Cisco passwords using best practices and recommendations




If you want to secure your Cisco passwords and prevent them from being cracked or decrypted by hackers, you need to follow some best practices and recommendations for password security on Cisco devices. Some of them are:


  • Use strong and complex passwords that are hard to guess or crack: You should use passwords that are at least eight characters long and contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. You should also avoid using common or predictable passwords, such as names, dates, words, phrases, patterns, etc. You should also change your passwords regularly and not reuse them for different devices or accounts.



  • Use enable secret instead of enable password for better encryption: You should use the enable secret command instead of the enable password command to set the password for entering privileged EXEC mode. The enable secret command encrypts the password using MD5, which is stronger than the type 7 encryption used by the enable password command.



  • Use service password-encryption to encrypt all clear text passwords in the configuration file: You should use the service password-encryption command in global configuration mode to encrypt all clear text passwords in the configuration file using type 7 encryption. This will prevent anyone from reading your passwords if they access your configuration file. However, you should be aware that type 7 encryption is weak and can be easily decrypted using online tools or scripts.



  • Use AAA authentication with external servers such as RADIUS or TACACS+ for centralized management and control: You should use the AAA authentication command in global configuration mode to enable authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services for your device. AAA services allow you to use external servers such as RADIUS or TACACS+ to manage and control the access and privileges of users and devices on your network. This will provide you with more security, scalability, and flexibility than using local passwords on your device.



  • Use SSH instead of Telnet for remote access to avoid sending passwords in clear text over the network: You should use the SSH command in line configuration mode to enable Secure Shell (SSH) for remote access to your device. SSH is a protocol that provides secure and encrypted communication between devices over a network. SSH also allows you to use public key authentication, which is more secure than password authentication. You should avoid using Telnet, which is an older protocol that sends passwords and data in clear text over the network, making them vulnerable to interception and eavesdropping.



Conclusion




In this article, you have learned how to use password cracker cisco to recover, decrypt, and secure your Cisco passwords. You have learned what password cracking is and why it is important, what are the different types of passwords in Cisco devices, what are the tools and methods for password cracking and decryption, how to recover passwords for Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, and access points, how to decrypt type 7 and type 5 passwords using online tools or scripts, and how to secure your Cisco passwords using best practices and recommendations.


By applying the knowledge and skills you have learned from this article, you will be able to protect your Cisco devices and network from unauthorized access and hackers. You will also be able to troubleshoot and resolve any password-related issues that may arise on your Cisco devices. You will also be able to improve your network security and performance by using strong and complex passwords, better encryption methods, external authentication servers, and secure protocols.


We hope you have enjoyed reading this article and found it useful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below. Thank you for your time and attention.


FAQs




Here are some frequently asked questions about password cracker cisco:


  • Q: What is the difference between type 7 and type 5 passwords?



  • A: Type 7 passwords are encrypted using a weak algorithm that can be reversed easily, while type 5 passwords are hashed using MD5, which is a stronger algorithm that cannot be inverted easily.



  • Q: How can I tell what type of password is used in my configuration file?



  • A: You can tell what type of password is used by looking at the first digit of the password. If the first digit is 7, it is a type 7 password. If the first digit is 5, it is a type 5 password.



  • Q: How can I encrypt my clear text passwords in my configuration file?



  • A: You can encrypt your clear text passwords by using the service password-encryption command in global configuration mode. This will encrypt all clear text passwords in your configuration file using type 7 encryption.



  • Q: How can I decrypt my type 7 passwords in my configuration file?



  • A: You can decrypt your type 7 passwords by using online tools or scripts that can reverse the encryption algorithm. You can also use the key chain command in global configuration mode to create a key chain with a key that has the same value as the predefined key used by Cisco to encrypt the passwords. You can then use the show key chain command to display the plain text passwords.



  • Q: How can I crack my type 5 passwords in my configuration file?



  • A: You can crack your type 5 passwords by using brute force or dictionary attacks with password cracking tools such as John the Ripper, Cain and Abel, Hashcat, etc. You can also use online tools that have pre-computed rainbow tables of MD5 hashes for common or likely passwords.



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