How to storage a password in database #OWASP #wecommit100xshare

IProper password storage is critical for ensuring the security of user accounts. OWASP provides a comprehensive set of guidelines to help developers implement secure password storage mechanisms. Here is a detailed cheat sheet based on OWASP recommendations.

1.Use Strong Hashing Algorithms

Recommended Algorithms: Use modern, cryptographic hash functions designed specifically for password hashing, such as Argon2, bcrypt, or PBKDF2.

Argon2: Winner of the Password Hashing Competition (PHC) and considered the most secure. It has configurable memory, time, and parallelism parameters.

bcrypt: Incorporates a salt to protect against rainbow table attacks and adapts over time with a configurable cost factor.

PBKDF2: Uses a salt and iterates the hashing process to make brute-force attacks more difficult.

2. Use Salts

Purpose: Salts prevent attackers from using precomputed hashes (rainbow tables) to crack passwords.

Implementation: Generate a unique, random salt for each user password.

Length: Salts should be at least 16 bytes long.

Storage: Store the salt along with the hashed password.

3. Use Pepper

Purpose: A pepper is a secret value added to the password before hashing, adding an extra layer of security.

Implementation: The pepper should be stored securely and separately from the hashed passwords, such as in application code or a secure environment variable.

4. Apply Adequate Work Factor

Purpose: The work factor controls the computational cost of hashing, making it more difficult for attackers to crack passwords via brute force.

Configuration:

Argon2: Adjust memory cost, time cost, and parallelism to balance security and performance.

bcrypt: Increase the cost factor as hardware capabilities improve.

PBKDF2: Increase the number of iterations over time.

5. Use Secure Password Policies

Purpose: Strong password policies help ensure that users create passwords that are difficult to guess or crack.

Recommendations:

Length: Minimum of 8 characters; longer passwords are encouraged.

Complexity: Encourage the use of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Password Managers: Encourage users to use password managers to create and store complex passwords.

6. Enforce Rate Limiting and Account Lockout

Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting to slow down brute-force attacks.

Account Lockout: Temporarily lock accounts after a certain number of failed login attempts. Ensure that legitimate users can regain access securely.

7. Secure Transmission and Storage

Transmission: Always use HTTPS to encrypt passwords in transit.

Storage: Store only hashed and salted passwords. Never store plaintext passwords.

8. Regularly Update Security Practices

Algorithm Updates: Stay informed about the latest developments in cryptographic algorithms and update your password hashing mechanisms accordingly.

Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests to identify and address vulnerabilities.

One Way Hashing

How to storage a password in database

I updated my post at: 2024-07-26 for recommendation from "Paul Moore"

Storing passwords securely in a database is crucial for protecting user data. Using a combination of hashing, salting, and key stretching algorithms such as bcrypt is recommended. Peppers can also add an additional layer of security when used correctly. Here's an example of how to store a password using bcrypt and HMAC in JavaScript.

Steps for Secure Password Storage

1. Hashing the Password with bcrypt: Use bcrypt to hash the password, which includes an automatic salt.
2. Adding a Pepper with HMAC: Use HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code) to add a pepper to the password before hashing.

Example Implementation in JavaScript

recommendation for tools online: https://argon2.online/