What Hashing Algorithm Does WordPress Use for Password Security?

Understanding Hashing in WordPress: What Type Does It Employ?

WordPress, a widely used content management system, employs hashing to safeguard user passwords and protect sensitive data. Understanding the hashing technique implemented by WordPress is crucial for maintaining data integrity.

WordPress Password Hashing Framework

To create hashes, WordPress utilizes the Portable PHP password hashing framework. This framework, adopted by several content management systems, provides robust password encryption. It employs bcrypt as the underlying hashing algorithm.

Bcrypt: A Proven Hashing Method

Bcrypt, an industry-standard hashing algorithm, is known for its high level of security. It's a work factor-based algorithm, meaning the hash generation process requires a substantial computational effort, making brute-force attacks challenging.

Example Hash Structure

WordPress passwords are hashed using the bcrypt algorithm. An example of a WordPress hash, as provided in the question, follows this structure:

$P$Bp.ZDNMM98mGNxCtHSkc1DqdRPXeoR.

This hash includes a version identifier ("$P$"), a salt ("Bp.ZDNMM98mGNxCtHSkc1"), and the hashed password ("1DqdRPXeoR").

Legacy MD5 Hashing

While WordPress currently uses bcrypt for hashing, earlier versions employed the MD5 algorithm. However, MD5 has been deprecated due to its vulnerability to collision attacks where multiple passwords generate the same hash.

Hash Verification

WordPress compares user-entered passwords with the stored hashes to authenticate users securely. If the entered password hashes to the same value as the stored hash, authentication is successful.

Password Hashing Best Practices

To enhance password security further, consider adopting the following best practices:

• Use strong passwords with a mix of characters, numbers, and symbols.
• Enable two-factor authentication for additional protection.
• Use a secure hosting provider that implements hardened security measures.

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