312-50V9 · Question #569
What is the algorithm used by LM for Windows2000 SAM?
The correct answer is B. DES. The LAN Manager (LM) hash algorithm splits the password into two 7-character halves and encrypts each using DES. This makes LM hashes notoriously weak and susceptible to brute-force attacks.
Question
What is the algorithm used by LM for Windows2000 SAM?
Options
- AMD4
- BDES
- CSHA
- DSSL
How the community answered
(35 responses)- B91% (32)
- C3% (1)
- D6% (2)
Why each option
The LAN Manager (LM) hash algorithm splits the password into two 7-character halves and encrypts each using DES. This makes LM hashes notoriously weak and susceptible to brute-force attacks.
MD4 is used by the NT hash (NTLM), not the older LM hash; LM and NT hashes are different algorithms stored side by side in the SAM database.
LM hashing uses DES (Data Encryption Standard) as the core encryption primitive. Each 7-character password half is used as a DES key to encrypt the constant string 'KGS!@#$%', producing two 8-byte ciphertext blocks that are concatenated to form the 16-byte LM hash. This design is weak because it limits the effective key space and allows each half to be cracked independently.
SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm) is a cryptographic hash function not used in the LM hashing scheme at any point in the Windows SAM password storage process.
SSL is a transport-layer security protocol, not a hashing or encryption algorithm, and plays no role in SAM password storage.
Concept tested: LAN Manager (LM) hash DES encryption mechanism
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2003/cc736842(v=ws.10)
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