password hash, funny myth in the industry!

["Bipin Gautam" <gautam.bipin () gmail com>]

hi list,
i was reading the article, http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001293.html
but just an example.

why do many people out there think password hash "can't be" as good as
the password itself and needs to be computed/cracked first before it
can be used?

Consider the fact, many websites/forums don't use password hash+salt,
just password hash( generally SHA1, MD5) that gets computer client
side and POSTED to the web-forum for user authentication.

If someone can sniff this, given that, user name is available using
simple GUI tools as 'Tamper Data' ( firefox plug in ) even a low tech
malicious user can log on with someones credentials without having to
crack the password hash, instead just using the password hash itself
manipulating the POST request.

makes sense? :)

thanks,
-bipin

_______________________________________________
Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html
Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/