SYM_JAVA_0085 - SymbioticSec/Symbiotic-Vulnerability-Database GitHub Wiki

Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm

Property Value
Language java
Severity high
CWE CWE-327: Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
OWASP A03:2017 - Sensitive Data Exposure
Confidence Level Medium
Impact Level Medium
Likelihood Level High

Description

The code is using MD5 to hash passwords, which is insecure because MD5 is fast and vulnerable to brute-force and collision attacks. Modern password hashing algorithms like bcrypt or PBKDF2 should be used instead to better protect user credentials.

Impact

If attackers obtain hashed passwords, they can quickly crack them due to MD5's weaknesses, leading to account takeovers, data breaches, and potential compromise of other services where users may reuse passwords. This puts both user data and organizational security at significant risk.