Cisco Secret 5 passwords are a type of password encryption used in Cisco IOS devices. When you configure a password with the enable secret 5 command, the password is encrypted using a one-way hashing algorithm, specifically the MD5 (Message-Digest Algorithm 5) algorithm. This encryption is considered more secure than the older Type 7 (Vigenère cipher) encryption, as it's more resistant to brute-force attacks.
R1(config)# enable algorithm-type scrypt secret MyP@ssw0rd2024
R1(config)# username admin algorithm-type scrypt secret MyP@ssw0rd2024
Why Type 9 is better:
If you are still using Type 5 hashes from old devices, consider them a legacy risk. cisco secret 5 password decrypt
Let’s say you have this hash:
$1$xyz123$ABC12def34GH56iJkL7890/
A password cracker (Hashcat, John the Ripper) will try millions of passwords per second:
hashcat -m 500 -a 3 hash.txt ?l?l?l?l?l?l
A simple 6-char lowercase password might fall in minutes. A 10-char complex password could take centuries. Cisco Secret 5 passwords are a type of
Cisco offers several password encryption types:
Many administrators confuse Type 7 (which can be decrypted) with Type 5 (which cannot). Why Type 9 is better: