Hydra Linux Tool – Learn How To Online Bruteforce

Hydra Linux Tool – Learn How To Online Bruteforce

July 5, 2023 Off By Das

Hydra is an online brute force tool that can be employed to crack credentials of remote machines. Known for its speed and flexibility, Hydra is a formidable option in the realm of password cracking. In addition to its primary function, Hydra offers additional benefits. It aids in identifying potential vulnerabilities within our systems, allowing us to predict and prevent potential intrusions. This multifaceted tool serves as a valuable asset in bolstering our overall cybersecurity posture, providing insights into system weaknesses and enhancing our proactive defense strategies. By leveraging Hydra’s capabilities, we can fortify our defenses and safeguard against unauthorized access and malicious attacks.

In order to crack our victim’s password we need to specify a few details: 

  • The victim’s username or a list of possible usernames. 
  • The victim’s password or list of possible passwords. 
  • The remote address (IPv4, IPv6 or DNS name). 
  • The service we want to attack. Hydra supports numerous protocols like SSH, Telnet, SMB, LDAP,SIP,RDP and more.  

Hydra Syntax

-l : username of remote machine 
-L: list of usernames 
-p: password of remote machine 
-P: list of passwords 
-C: login:password format (instead of -l/-L/-p/-P) 
-M: list of servers to connect to (if we want to brute force more than one) 
-s: desination port (usually when the service is not on default port) 
-S: connect via SSL 
-x: generate passwords. Will be at min:max:charset format :

  • Min – minimum length of password 
  • Max – maximum length of password 
  • Charset – characters included in the passwords. “a” for lowercase characters. “A” for uppercase characters. “1” for numbers and you can also specify specific characters. 
  • Example: 1:2:a1$^ – the password’s length is 1 to 2 and contains lowercase, numeric, $, and ^ characters (or some of them). 

For more options use man hydra 

Examples

Install the tool using sudo apt install hydra

sudo apt install hydra

Bruteforce using hydra –l [username] -P [wordlist location] [protocol]://[remote address]

 

Conclusion

Hydra is a powerful tool for both offensive and defensive security operations. While it can be used to crack passwords and gain unauthorized access, it is also an invaluable asset for security professionals looking to protect their systems. By understanding and utilizing Hydra, we can better prepare for and defend against potential intrusions