{"id":21162,"date":"2022-02-26T03:51:24","date_gmt":"2022-02-26T03:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/?p=21162"},"modified":"2022-08-19T19:51:16","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T19:51:16","slug":"rainbow-table-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Rainbow Table Attacks and Cryptanalytic Defenses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Rainbow table attacks are an older but still effective tactic for threat actors targeting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/best-password-managers\/\">password<\/a> database vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/advanced-persistent-threat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">advanced persistent threats<\/a> might elect for more sophisticated methods like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/endpoint\/secure-access-for-remote-workers-rdp-vpn-vdi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remote desktop protocol<\/a> (RDP) attacks, but cryptanalytic attacks \u2013 the inspection of cryptographic systems for vulnerabilities \u2013 remain a legitimate concern in the landscape of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/top-cybersecurity-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cybersecurity<\/a> threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rainbow table attacks are an effective tactic for threat actors targeting password <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/database-security-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">database<\/a> vulnerabilities presenting inadequate privacy and security functionality. Practices like password salting and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/patch-management-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">patching<\/a> hash algorithms are crucial for combatting rainbow table attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article looks at rainbow table attacks, how rainbow tables work, best practices for defending against cryptanalytic attacks, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jump to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/#\">What are <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/#what\">Cryptanalytic<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/#\"> Attacks?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/#rt\">What is a Rainbow Table?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/#rta\">What is a Rainbow Table Attack?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/#defenses\">Defending Against Rainbow Table Attacks<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/#history\">History of Rainbow Tables<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/rainbow-table-attack\/#threat\">Are Rainbow Tables Still A Threat?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\"><strong>What are Cryptanalytic Attacks?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A cryptanalytic attack is one where unauthorized actors breach a cryptographic security system through exhaustive searches for information related to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/best-encryption-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">encryption<\/a> scheme. Cryptanalytic attacks target <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/networks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">operating systems<\/a> that purposely avoid storing passwords in plaintext \u2013 and, instead, store a cryptographic hash of the password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cryptanalysts or malicious actors can use basic information about the cryptographic scheme, plaintext, or ciphertext to decipher encrypted communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cryptology: Cryptography vs Cryptanalysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cryptology is the computer science discipline concerning the secret storing and sharing of data. The development of cryptology has been critical to safeguarding data for government agencies, military units, companies, and today&#8217;s digital users. The study of codes divides into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Cryptography<\/strong>: the methodology and applications for encrypting data.<\/li><li><strong>Cryptanalysis<\/strong>: the processes and methods to break codes and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/networks\/the-case-for-decryption-in-cybersecurity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decrypt<\/a> messages.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology-1024x864.jpg\" alt=\"A graphic image showing the relationship between cryptography and cryptanalysis as a part of cryptology. The diagram shows plaintext gets encrypted through an encryption scheme creating a ciphertext, capable of being decrypted back to its plaintext form. Cryptographers manage the encryption scheme in the name of cryptography, as cryptanalysts test and penetrate the encryption scheme in the name of cryptanalysis.\" class=\"wp-image-21167\" width=\"590\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology-1024x864.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology-300x253.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology-768x648.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology-1536x1296.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology-150x127.jpg 150w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology-696x587.jpg 696w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology-1068x901.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.Cryptology.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><figcaption>A visual diagram showing the relationship between cryptography and cryptanalysis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are Cryptanalysts?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cryptanalysts are commonly responsible for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/best-penetration-testing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">penetration testing<\/a> cryptographic systems like deriving plaintext from the ciphertext. Enterprises often hire cryptanalysts to develop encryption algorithms (ciphers) and analyze cryptographic security systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Read more<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/internet-security-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Best Internet Security Suites &amp; Software<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common Types of Cryptanalytic Attacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Type of Attack<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Cryptanalyst Task<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ciphertext Only (COA)<\/td><td>Decrypt message(s) with no additional information<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Known-Plaintext (KPA)<\/td><td>Find the encryption key with some information<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chosen Plaintext (CPA)<\/td><td>Evaluate encryption key with chosen plaintext inputs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Adaptive Chosen Plaintext (ACPA)<\/td><td>Evaluate encryption key with advanced CPA method<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chosen Ciphertext (CCA)<\/td><td>Evaluate encryption key with chosen ciphertext inputs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Meddler-in-the-Middle (MITM)<\/td><td>Manipulate encryption of a communication channel<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Dictionary Attack<\/td><td>Test password files by encrypting dictionary words<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rt\"><strong>What is a Rainbow Table?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rainbow tables are key-value tables of known hashes for a cryptographic security system. These pre-computed datasets allow a password-cracking actor to work backward from the ciphertext. Though this process can be time-consuming, the key-value table enables cryptanalysts and threat actors to execute a rainbow table attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rta\"><strong>What is a Rainbow Table Attack?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rainbow table attacks expose cryptographic hash functions to breach authorized account access. Threat actors capable of obtaining an organization&#8217;s password database can use hash information for passwords to craft a rainbow table. From there, the rainbow table gives the hacker or cryptanalyst a map to decrypt password hashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Also read<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/vulnerability-management-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Top Vulnerability Management Tools<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"defenses\"><strong>Defending Against Rainbow Attacks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Moving Away from the Password<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Multi-Factor Authentication<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A critical feature offered by most services today for combatting password attacks is the ever-encouraged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/threats\/attackers-use-bots-to-circumvent-one-time-passwords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">two-factor authentication<\/a> (2FA) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/mobile\/multi-factor-authentication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">multi-factor authentication<\/a> (MFA). Going beyond just a password, 2FA and MFA add at least one more form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/mobile\/oauth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">authentication<\/a> and prevent standalone rainbow table attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Passwordless Authentication<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/trends\/passwordless-authentication-101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Passwordless authentication<\/a> continues to be an important trend in the fight to secure the accounts of clients, personnel, and users at large. Examples of popular passwordless methods include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/facial-recognition-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Biometric Authentication<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/best-secure-email-gateways\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Email<\/a>-Based Authentication<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/best-iam-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Identity and Access Management<\/a> (IAM)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/single-sign-on-solutions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Single Sign-On<\/a> (SSO)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Password Salting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before a password takes on its hash form, a standard security hardening policy adds a unique string of characters to the plaintext password known as &#8220;salting.&#8221; These strings, or salts, are stored and known to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/top-web-application-firewall-waf-vendors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">web application<\/a> service provider and give accounts an additional layer of security beyond the user&#8217;s intended password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the same salt across account passwords is better than no salting; however, using unique salts for each password provides even more robust security. This salting and hashing of passwords further complicates an actor&#8217;s effort to gain access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Eyes on Hashing Algorithms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cryptographic hashing algorithms are the mathematical processes transforming user input data into ciphertext, making the framework of choice an essential part of the password security formula. Examples of hashing algorithms like SHA, RSA, BLAKE, and MD offer cryptographers efficient and reliable computation where the same input will always receive the same output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though hashing algorithms are immune to reverse engineering, including rainbow table attacks, this is only the case with secure policies in place for password databases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Read more<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/products\/1password-vs-lastpass\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1Password vs LastPass: Compare Top Password Managers<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"history\"><strong>History of Rainbow Tables<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Early Development by Hellman and Rivest<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cryptanalytic attacks required exhaustive compute power, and storing the complete search in memory wasn&#8217;t feasible before 1980. In 1976, Martin Hellman was a part of the computer science researchers breaking ground on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/networks\/encryption\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">public-key cryptography<\/a> with the Diffie-Hellman-Merkle key exchange. Four years later, cryptographer Ron Rivest \u2013 the R in RSA \u2013 worked on a similar cryptanalytic method reducing time to breach through distinguished points and pre-calculated data stored in memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Oechslin\u2019s Cryptanalytic Time-Memory Trade-Off<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2003, Swiss computer scientist Phillppe Oechslin published <a href=\"https:\/\/lasecwww.epfl.ch\/pub\/lasec\/doc\/Oech03.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Making a Faster Cryptanalytic Time-Memory Trade-Off<\/em>,<\/a> building off of Hellman and Rivest&#8217;s original application to develop what we know today as rainbow tables. Oechslin&#8217;s proposed method reduced the number of calculations needed during cryptanalysis by two, making rainbow tables an advanced form of time-memory trade-off methods and resulting in a swifter password cracking process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample-1024x484.png\" alt=\"Findings from Oechslin\u2019s report showing the difference between classic and rainbow methods when tested against a Microsoft Windows password hash.\" class=\"wp-image-21165\" width=\"605\" height=\"286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample-1024x484.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample-768x363.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample-1536x726.png 1536w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample-150x71.png 150w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample-696x329.png 696w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample-1068x505.png 1068w, https:\/\/assets.esecurityplanet.com\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ESP.OechslinWindowsExample.png 1757w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px\" \/><figcaption><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><em>Findings from Oechslin\u2019s report showing the difference between classic and rainbow methods when tested against a Microsoft Windows password hash.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"threat\"><strong>Are Rainbow Table Attacks Still A Threat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. Though attack tactics, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/networks\/use-mitre-attck-to-understand-attacker-behavior\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">techniques<\/a>, and procedures (TTPs) evolve, rainbow attacks remain a threat to organizations failing to practice adequate password security. Security administrators must be aware of their cryptographic scheme to ensure continued data privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rainbow tables bring up the broader question about the future of cryptanalysis and cryptanalytic attacks from quantum computers. The development of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms is a significant development and crucial to securing future communications and data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/trends\/cybersecurity-outlook-2022-ransomware-and-ai-attacks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cybersecurity Outlook 2022: Third-Party, Ransomware, and AI Attacks Will Get Worse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"ta-campaign-widget-66d707061acf3-popup-wrapper\" class=\"ta-campaign-widget__popup-wrapper\">\n    \n<div\n    style=\"\n        --ta-campaign-plugin-primary: #3545ed;\n        --ta-campaign-plugin-button-text: #fff;\n        --ta-campaign-plugin-button-hover-background: #3231b4;\n        --ta-campaign-plugin-button-hover-text: #fff;\n        --ta-campaign-plugin-button-toggle-background: #3231b4;\n        --ta-campaign-plugin-button-toggle-text: #3231B4;\n    \"\n    data-ajax-url=\"https:\/\/www.esecurityplanet.com\/wp\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php\">\n    <div\n        id=\"ta-campaign-widget-66d707061acf3\"\n        class=\"ta-campaign-widget ta-campaign-widget--popup\"\n        data-campaign-fields='{\"properties\":{\"campaign_type\":\"popup\",\"campaign_category\":false,\"sailthru_list\":[\"cybersecurity-insider\"],\"popup_type\":\"exit_intent\",\"appearance\":{\"colors\":{\"primary_color\":\"#3545ed\",\"button\":{\"button_text_color\":\"#fff\",\"hover\":{\"button_hover_background_color\":\"#3231b4\",\"button_hover_text_color\":\"#fff\"},\"toggle\":{\"button_toggle_background_color\":\"#3231b4\",\"button_toggle_text_color\":\"#3231B4\"}}},\"custom_scss\":\"\"},\"behavior\":{\"opt_in_enabled\":true},\"language\":{\"tagline\":\"Get the Free Cybersecurity Newsletter\",\"subtagline\":\"\",\"content\":\"Strengthen your organization&#39;s IT security defenses by keeping up to date on the latest cybersecurity news, solutions, and best practices. 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[&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":250,"featured_media":21164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_gazelle_contributing_experts":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[9651],"b2b_audience":[33],"b2b_industry":[],"b2b_product":[429,66,394,377,286,143,82,375,31775,392],"class_list":["post-21162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-threats","tag-faq","b2b_audience-awareness-and-consideration","b2b_product-database-security","b2b_product-development","b2b_product-email-security","b2b_product-gateway-and-network-security","b2b_product-mobile-security","b2b_product-security","b2b_product-security-development","b2b_product-security-management","b2b_product-web-applications-security","b2b_product-web-security"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Rainbow Table Attacks and Cryptanalytic Defenses | eSecurity Planet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This article provides a detailed description of a rainbow table attack with examples. 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