Use a different cracking tool

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 146 views

Introduction

HashCat is a popular password cracking tool used by security professionals and hackers alike. It supports a wide range of hash types, including bcrypt, Blowfish (Unix), and many others. In this article, we will explore the bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) line-length exception in HashCat and provide a step-by-step guide on how to use it to decrypt example hashes.

**Understanding bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix)**

Bcrypt is a password hashing algorithm designed to be more secure than traditional hashing algorithms like MD5 and SHA-1. It uses a work factor, which is a measure of how computationally expensive the hashing process is, to slow down the hashing process and make it more resistant to brute-force attacks. The $2\*$ prefix in bcrypt hashes indicates that the hash is a bcrypt hash with a work factor of 2.

Blowfish (Unix) is another password hashing algorithm that uses a variable-length key and a 64-bit block size. It is designed to be fast and secure, but it has some limitations, including a limited key size and a vulnerability to certain types of attacks.

The Line-length Exception

When using HashCat to crack bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hashes, you may encounter a line-length exception. This exception occurs when the hash is too long to fit on a single line, causing HashCat to fail to crack the hash.

Causes of the Line-length Exception

There are several reasons why the line-length exception may occur when using HashCat to crack bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hashes:

Hash length: If the hash is too long, it may exceed the maximum line length allowed by HashCat, causing the line-length exception.
Work factor: If the work factor is too high, the hash may be too long to fit on a single line, causing the line-length exception.
Key size: If the key size is too large, the hash may be too long to fit on a single line, causing the line-length exception.

Solutions to the Line-length Exception

To resolve the line-length exception when using HashCat to crack bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hashes, you can try the following solutions:

Use a shorter hash: If the hash is too long, try using a shorter hash or a hash with a lower work factor.
Increase the line length: You can increase the line length by modifying the HashCat configuration file or by using a custom configuration file.
Use a different cracking tool: If the line-length exception persists, you can try using a different cracking tool, such as John the Ripper or Aircrack-ng.

**Step-by-Step Guide to Cracking bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) Hashes with HashCat**

To crack bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hashes with HashCat, follow these steps:

Download and install HashCat: Download and install HashCat from the official website.
Create a configuration file: Create a configuration file for HashCat using the following syntax:

hashcat -a 3 -m 3200 -o output.txt input.txt

-a 3 specifies the attack mode (in this case, dictionary attack).
-m 3200 specifies the hash type (in this case, bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix)).
-o output.txt specifies the output file.
input.txt specifies the input file containing the hash.

Add the hash to the input file: Add the bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hash to the input file.
Run HashCat: Run HashCat using the following command:

hashcat -a 3 -m 3200 -o output.txt input.txt

Wait for the cracking process to complete: Wait for the cracking process to complete. This may take several minutes or hours, depending on the complexity of the hash and the speed of your computer.
Check the output file: Check the output file to see if the hash has been cracked.

Example Use Case

Let's say we have a bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hash that we want to crack using HashCat. The hash is:

$2a$05$LhayLxezLhK1LhWvKxCyLOj0j1u....

We create a configuration file for HashCat using the following syntax:

hashcat -a 3 -m 3200 -o output.txt input.txt

We add the hash to the input file:

$2a$05$LhayLxezLhK1LhWvKxCyLOj0j1u....

We run HashCat using the following command:

hashcat -a 3 -m 3200 -o output.txt input.txt

We wait for the cracking process to complete. After several minutes, HashCat outputs the following:

$2a$05$LhayLxezLhK1LhWvKxCyLOj0j1u....: password123

The hash has been cracked, and the password is password123.

Conclusion

$In this article, we explored the bcrypt $2\*$, Blowfish (Unix) line-length exception in HashCat and provided a step-by-step guide on how to use it to decrypt example hashes. We discussed the causes of the line-length exception and provided solutions to resolve it. We also provided an example use case to demonstrate how to crack bcrypt $2\*$, Blowfish (Unix) hashes with HashCat.<br/> **HashCat bcrypt $2\*$, Blowfish (Unix) Line-length exception: Q&A**$

**Q: What is the bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) line-length exception in HashCat?**

A: The bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) line-length exception in HashCat occurs when the hash is too long to fit on a single line, causing HashCat to fail to crack the hash.

Q: What are the causes of the line-length exception?

A: The causes of the line-length exception include:

Hash length: If the hash is too long, it may exceed the maximum line length allowed by HashCat, causing the line-length exception.
Work factor: If the work factor is too high, the hash may be too long to fit on a single line, causing the line-length exception.
Key size: If the key size is too large, the hash may be too long to fit on a single line, causing the line-length exception.

Q: How can I resolve the line-length exception?

A: To resolve the line-length exception, you can try the following solutions:

Use a shorter hash: If the hash is too long, try using a shorter hash or a hash with a lower work factor.
Increase the line length: You can increase the line length by modifying the HashCat configuration file or by using a custom configuration file.
Use a different cracking tool: If the line-length exception persists, you can try using a different cracking tool, such as John the Ripper or Aircrack-ng.

Q: How do I create a configuration file for HashCat?

A: To create a configuration file for HashCat, use the following syntax:

hashcat -a 3 -m 3200 -o output.txt input.txt

-a 3 specifies the attack mode (in this case, dictionary attack).
-m 3200 specifies the hash type (in this case, bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix)).
-o output.txt specifies the output file.
input.txt specifies the input file containing the hash.

Q: How do I add the hash to the input file?

A: To add the hash to the input file, simply copy and paste the hash into the input file.

Q: How do I run HashCat?

A: To run HashCat, use the following command:

hashcat -a 3 -m 3200 -o output.txt input.txt

**Q: How long does it take to crack a bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hash with HashCat?**

A: The time it takes to crack a bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hash with HashCat depends on the complexity of the hash and the speed of your computer. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or even days.

Q: Can I use HashCat to crack other types of hashes?

A: Yes, HashCat can be used to crack other types of hashes, including MD5, SHA-1, and many others. However, the syntax and configuration may vary depending on the hash type.

Q: Is HashCat free to use?

A: Yes, HashCat is free to use for personal and educational purposes. However, commercial use may require a license.

Q: Is HashCat safe to use?

A: HashCat is a powerful tool that can be used for both good and malicious purposes. It is essential to use HashCat responsibly and only for legitimate purposes.

Conclusion

In this Q&A article, we answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) line-length exception in HashCat. We provided information on the causes of the line-length exception, how to resolve it, and how to use HashCat to crack bcrypt $2\*$ , Blowfish (Unix) hashes. We also provided information on how to create a configuration file, add the hash to the input file, and run HashCat.