Re: Secure Password Policy?

[List Spam <listspam () gmail com>]

On 1/19/06, Mike Dieroff <michael () bluescreenit co uk> wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> As far as I remember, the NTLANMAN hash maxed at 8 and LM hashes at 13
> characters... could be corrected...

On the Windows platform, by default, LM and NTLM hashes are
created/stored.  Both store the password in 7 character segments. 
Sure, NTLM allows case-sensitifity, but that is hardly effective with
such a small storage segment.  It's better than LM in the same way
that Mustang II's were better than Pintos...

I don't know about you, but I'd bet a cracker would much rather like
to deal with 7 characters than with 15 or more - especially with the
proliferation of rainbow tables these days.

> I have not really heard of any 'secure' implementation with 6 character
> passwords - The minimum today would be:
>
> 1.) Password length: 8 characters
> 2.) Full complexity: Upper and lower case, numerals, alphanumerics   <----
> Don't forget the spacebar here!!always a good one!
> 3.) Max age average of around 40 - 60 days dependant
> 4.) History of around 10 passwords

You may want to rethink this as even a 14 character password is
trivially cracked as two seperate 7 byte segments.  This is why
Windows passwords are "easy" to crack - regardless of character set
used.  LM and NTLM must either explicitly be disabled or the password
must exceed the maximum length of the authentication protocol's limit.

Reading materials:
http://davenport.sourceforge.net/ntlm.html#ntlmDataTypes
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299656&sd=tech

As long as you protect against the common automated password cracking
routines (most just go after LM hashes), you only have to worry about
the end-user.  They're more secure than LM hashes are, right...?  ;-)

My two cents.

RE

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audit your website security with Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner:

Hackers are concentrating their efforts on attacking applications on your
website. Up to 75% of cyber attacks are launched on shopping carts, forms,
login pages, dynamic content etc. Firewalls, SSL and locked-down servers are
futile against web application hacking. Check your website for vulnerabilities
to SQL injection, Cross site scripting and other web attacks before hackers do!
Download Trial at:

http://www.securityfocus.com/sponsor/pen-test_050831
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------