Substring Analysis

Uncovering Systematic Password Weaknesses

It’s 2025 and weak passwords remain at the top of most cybersecurity vulnerability lists. While the solution is to replace password-based authentication with something better, this article assumes that most companies are still using passwords. My focus today is on how we can improve current password analysis by improving how we look for password vulnerabilities.

Traditional methods like dictionary word analysis have long been employed to identify weak passwords but they fall short when detecting systematic password creation patterns unique to organizations. I’ll share how the emerging practice of substring analysis is being used as an advanced tool to uncover new patterns, offering deeper insights into password weaknesses.

The Limitations of Dictionary Word Analysis

Dictionary word analysis is a staple in password security, identifying passwords containing words from a predefined list. While effective detecting common and predictable password base-words like "welcome" or “winter”, it has inherent limitations:

  • Restricted Scope: Matches only predefined dictionary words, often overlooking subtle or systematic patterns.

  • Substitution & Permutation: Misses common substitutions like swapping a zero for an “O” or using leet speak to spell words. It also misses permutations like spelling a word backwards.

  • Dictionary Limitations: Requires separate dictionaries for non-English words and misses common words like sports teams, bible verses, proper names, etc.

Despite its utility, dictionary word analysis fails to detect substrings unique to an organization, such as project names, product names or other internal keywords. It also misses common strings that users may use to create passwords, like ending their password with 2025##. There is still great value in performing dictionary word analysis, but there is more analysis that can be done.

The Power of Substring Analysis

Substring analysis addresses these limitations by identifying repeating character sequences in passwords, irrespective of their linguistic meaning. This approach highlights systematic issues, such as:

  • Organization-Specific Patterns: Identifying substrings like business unit names, building addresses, project names, code words, acronyms, etc.

  • Purposeful Reuse: Detecting repeated substrings even when they lack an obvious meaning. (This is where the most interesting insights are often derived!)

  • Case Sensitivity: Allowing both case-sensitive and insensitive analysis for granular insights.

By uncovering these patterns, substring analysis enables organizations to address systematic weaknesses that traditional methods might overlook.

Hash Master 1000: Elevating Password Analysis

SynerComm recently launched Hash Master 1000, a free new tool, that revolutionizes password analysis with its comprehensive features. It supports both dictionary word and substring analysis, offering flexibility and precision in identifying vulnerabilities.

Screenshot of Hash Master 1000’s Substring Analysis

Key Features

  • Substring and Dictionary Word Analysis: Provides powerful tools for identifying weak passwords.

  • Customizable Analysis Settings: Tailor analysis with options like minimum substring length, frequency thresholds, and case sensitivity.

  • Password Policy Compliance Checks: Ensures adherence to organizational password policies.

  • Intuitive Reporting: Generates easy-to-read tables, charts, and even export JSON data for further analysis.

Screenshot of Substring Analysis Options

Interested in Learning More?

Substring analysis represents a significant leap forward in password security, uncovering patterns that dictionary word analysis often misses. With tools like Hash Master 1000, cybersecurity professionals can identify and address these systematic weaknesses effectively.

Explore the capabilities of Hash Master 1000 on GitHub and leverage its features to strengthen your organization's password security. For more information about SynerComm's penetration testing and hash assessment services, contact us today.