What is a rainbow table attack?
A rainbow table attack cracks password hashes using precomputed tables of common passwords and their corresponding hash values. Password databases hash (irreversibly encrypt) passwords to prevent direct use if stolen. Attackers use rainbow tables to reverse hashed passwords back to plaintext more efficiently than brute-force methods or simple lookup tables.
A rainbow table is a precomputed set of hash values used to crack password databases that store information in hashed format. These tables let attackers access secure systems without guessing passwords.
Attackers create "chains" of hash values to generate rainbow tables. They start with a known value and apply the hash function to get the corresponding hash. They then compare hashed values from the table against hashed values from a breached database to find matches. When a matching hash appears, the attacker uses the corresponding password to log into the target system or access sensitive information.
Rainbow tables work efficiently because they can be pre-computed for specific hash functions and password lengths, then reused across multiple targets using the same hash function. Attackers skip generating new tables for each target.
Real-world examples of rainbow table attacks
LinkedIn suffered a breach in 2012 when hackers accessed a database containing over 6.5 million hashed passwords. They used rainbow tables to crack the passwords and leaked them online, exposing millions of user accounts.
Adobe Systems lost 150 million encrypted passwords in 2013. The company used a weak hashing algorithm that rainbow tables cracked easily.
The Ubuntu Forums website was hacked in 2013, exposing a database with 1.8 million usernames and hashed passwords. Attackers combined brute force and rainbow tables to crack passwords and access user accounts.
How to protect against rainbow table attacks
Strong, unique passwords: Longer, complex passwords resist cracking attempts. Use different passwords for each account. If one password is compromised, separate passwords keep other accounts secure.
Hash salting: Combine passwords with random values before hashing. Each password gets a different salt value, making precomputed rainbow tables ineffective even against identical passwords.
Strong encryption methods: Store passwords using robust encryption like AES or RSA alongside other security measures.
Multi-factor authentication: Require users to provide secondary verification (one-time codes from apps or SMS) beyond their password.
Updated software: Keep database and encryption software current with security patches to close vulnerabilities attackers exploit.
How rainbow table attacks differ from other cracking methods
Brute force attacks try every possible character combination until finding the correct password. This takes considerable time but works against weak passwords.
Dictionary attacks test lists of common passwords, dictionary words, and variations. They run faster than brute force by limiting attempts to probable options, but fail against complex or unique passwords.
Rainbow tables skip the guessing process. They use precomputed hash lookups to reverse encrypted passwords directly, potentially breaking through cryptographic protections that stop brute force and dictionary attacks.
Decentralized identity as a defense
Database breaches create opportunities for rainbow table attacks when hackers obtain hash dumps. 1Kosmos mitigates this by decentralizing identity management. The decentralized blockchain system removes database honeypots while placing identity ownership with users. This creates compliant authentication that maintains security.
1Kosmos provides these security and usability features:
Identity-based authentication: Biometrics identify individuals through credential triangulation and identity verification, moving beyond device-based authentication.
Cloud-native architecture: Flexible and scalable cloud architecture enables application building using standard API and SDK.
Identity proofing: Verifies identity anywhere, anytime, on any device with over 99% accuracy.
Privacy by design: Protects personally identifiable information in a distributed identity architecture with encrypted data accessible only by the user.
Private and permissioned blockchain: Protects personally identifiable information in a private blockchain, encrypts digital identities, and restricts access to users only. The distributed properties eliminate databases to breach or honeypots for hackers to target.
Interoperability: Integrates with existing infrastructure through 50+ out-of-the-box integrations or via API/SDK.
Enter our orbit.
