Navigate to the Help Desk Module

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 48 views

Password Generation for Helpdesk: A Critical Issue

Introduction Password generation is a crucial aspect of maintaining user security and convenience. In the context of a helpdesk, generating complex passwords that are easy to read and remember is essential. However, in our current implementation, the password generator fails to meet these expectations. In this article, we will delve into the issue, explore the expected behavior, and discuss potential solutions.

The Bug: A Complex Issue When the HelpDesk profile is enabled, users can configure the "Set Password UI Mode" to "Auto generate a list of random password to choose from." This feature is designed to provide users with a list of complex passwords to choose from, making it easier for them to remember their passwords. However, the generated passwords are extremely complex and not user-friendly. The seedlist has been configured, but the password generator is not utilizing it to create passwords from words.

To Reproduce the Behavior To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Navigate to the Help Desk Module: Go to 'Modules ⇨ Authenticated ⇨ Help Desk ⇨ Profiles ⇨ default ⇨ Options '
Configure the Password UI Mode: Click on 'Set Password UI Mode'
Select the Auto Generate Option: Scroll down to 'Auto generate a list of random password to choose from'
Enable the HelpDesk Profile: Enable the HelpDesk Profile and connect with a user who has the necessary rights.
Search for a User: Search for a user to generate a new password
Observe the Generated Password: See the password generated, which is likely to be an unreadable combination of characters.

Expected Behavior The password generator should utilize the seedlist to create complex passwords from words. This would make it easier for users to remember their passwords, as they would be able to choose from a list of words that are more readable and memorable.

Screenshots The following screenshot illustrates the issue:

Desktop Environment The issue is reproducible on all operating systems (OS) and browsers, with all versions.

Additional Context The password policy is as follows:

Case Sensitivity: Passwords are case sensitive, meaning that the distinction between lowercase and uppercase letters is maintained.
Length: Passwords must be between 8 and 30 characters long.
Character Requirements: Passwords must include at least 1 number, 1 lowercase letter, and 1 uppercase letter.
Forbidden Characters: Passwords must not include part of the user's name or username, nor any common words or sequences of characters.

Potential Solutions To address this issue, we can consider the following solutions:

Modify the Password Generator: Update the password generator to utilize the seedlist and create complex passwords from words.
Implement a Password Suggestion Feature: Introduce a feature that suggests passwords based on the seedlist, allowing users to choose from a list of readable and memorable passwords.
Enhance the User Interface: Improve the user interface to make it easier for users to navigate and select passwords from the seedlist.

Conclusion The password generation issue in the helpdesk is a critical problem that needs to be addressed. By understanding the expected behavior and exploring potential solutions, we can improve the user experience and provide a more secure and convenient password generation process.
Password Generation for Helpdesk: A Q&A Guide

Introduction In our previous article, we discussed the issue of password generation in the helpdesk, where the password generator fails to meet the expectations of generating complex passwords that are easy to read and remember. In this article, we will provide a Q&A guide to help you understand the issue and its potential solutions.

Q: What is the expected behavior of the password generator? A: The expected behavior of the password generator is to utilize the seedlist to create complex passwords from words, making it easier for users to remember their passwords.

Q: Why is the password generator not using the seedlist? A: The password generator is not utilizing the seedlist because of a bug in the current implementation. The seedlist is being generated, but the password generator is not using it to create passwords from words.

Q: What are the password policy requirements? A: The password policy requires that passwords be:

Case sensitive: Passwords are case sensitive, meaning that the distinction between lowercase and uppercase letters is maintained.
Between 8 and 30 characters long: Passwords must be between 8 and 30 characters long.
Include at least 1 number, 1 lowercase letter, and 1 uppercase letter: Passwords must include at least 1 number, 1 lowercase letter, and 1 uppercase letter.
Not include part of the user's name or username: Passwords must not include part of the user's name or username.
Not include a common word or commonly used sequence of characters: Passwords must not include a common word or commonly used sequence of characters.

Q: What are the potential solutions to this issue? A: The potential solutions to this issue are:

Modify the Password Generator: Update the password generator to utilize the seedlist and create complex passwords from words.
Implement a Password Suggestion Feature: Introduce a feature that suggests passwords based on the seedlist, allowing users to choose from a list of readable and memorable passwords.
Enhance the User Interface: Improve the user interface to make it easier for users to navigate and select passwords from the seedlist.

Q: How can I reproduce the issue? A: To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Navigate to the Help Desk Module: Go to 'Modules ⇨ Authenticated ⇨ Help Desk ⇨ Profiles ⇨ default ⇨ Options '
Configure the Password UI Mode: Click on 'Set Password UI Mode'
Select the Auto Generate Option: Scroll down to 'Auto generate a list of random password to choose from'
Enable the HelpDesk Profile: Enable the HelpDesk Profile and connect with a user who has the necessary rights.
Search for a User: Search for a user to generate a new password
Observe the Generated Password: See the password generated, which is likely to be an unreadable combination of characters.

Q: What are the implications of this issue? A: The implications of this issue are that users may have difficulty remembering their passwords, which can lead to security risks and decreased productivity.