31 lines
1.3 KiB
Plaintext
31 lines
1.3 KiB
Plaintext
=== What is the potential impact?
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Plaintext or weakly hashed password storage poses a significant security risk
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to software applications.
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==== Unauthorized Access
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When passwords are stored in plaintext or with weak hashing algorithms, an
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attacker who gains access to the password database can easily retrieve and use
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the passwords to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. This can lead to
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various malicious activities, such as unauthorized data access, identity theft,
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or even financial fraud.
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==== Credential Reuse
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Many users tend to reuse passwords across multiple platforms. If an attacker
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obtains plaintext or weakly hashed passwords, they can potentially use these
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credentials to gain unauthorized access to other accounts held by the same
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user. This can have far-reaching consequences, as sensitive personal
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information or critical systems may be compromised.
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==== Regulatory Compliance
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Many industries and jurisdictions have specific regulations and standards to
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protect user data and ensure its confidentiality. Storing passwords in
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plaintext or with weak hashing algorithms can lead to non-compliance with
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these regulations, potentially resulting in legal consequences, financial
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penalties, and damage to the reputation of the software application and its
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developers.
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