Solved:How to Recover Forgotten LUKS Password using word list and Python script

Key Takeaways

• This blog article explains how to recover a forgotten LUKS password using a word list and a Python script.
• LUKS is a secure and reliable method of disk encryption in Linux, but it requires a passphrase or a key file to access the encrypted data.
• If you forget your passphrase or lose your key file, you can try to generate permutations of possible passwords from a word list and test them one by one on your LUKS encrypted drive using a Python script.
• This article provides the steps, the code, and the resources to perform this task, as well as some FAQs and alternatives to LUKS encryption.

Problem

If you have encrypted your Linux drive with LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) and you can’t remember your password, you might think that you have lost your data forever. But don’t panic, there is a way to recover your password by generating permutations of possible words and trying them one by one. In this article, we will show you how to do that using a Python script and a word list.

Solution: Recover forgotten LUKS password using word list and Python script

Here are the steps to follow to recover your forgotten LUKS password using a word list and a Python script:

Step 1: Create or download a word list that contains words, numbers, or symbols that you think might be part of your password. Save the word list as a text file (for example, wordlist.txt) in a folder on your computer or on a removable device.

Step 2: Write or download a Python script that generates permutations of words, numbers, and symbols from a word list. Save the Python script as a file (for example, permute.py) in the same folder as the word list.

Step 3: Open a terminal or a command-line interface and navigate to the folder where you saved the word list and the Python script. You can use the cd command to change directories, and the ls command to list the files in a directory.

Step 4: Run the Python script with the word list as an argument. You can use the python command to run the script, and the > symbol to redirect the output to a file. For example, you can type:

python permute.py wordlist.txt > passwords.txt

This will generate permutations of words, numbers, and symbols from the word list and save them as a text file (for example, passwords.txt) in the same folder.

Step 5: Try the passwords from the file one by one on your LUKS encrypted drive. You can use the cryptsetup command to open the drive with a password, and the mount command to mount the drive to a directory. For example, you can type:

cryptsetup luksOpen /dev/sda5 encrypted mount /dev/mapper/encrypted /mnt

This will prompt you for a password to open the drive /dev/sda5 (you can use the fdisk command to find the name of your drive) and mount it to the directory /mnt (you can use any empty directory as a mount point). If the password is correct, you will be able to access your data in the /mnt directory. If the password is wrong, you will get an error message and you will have to try another password from the file.

Step 6: Repeat step 5 until you find the correct password or until you run out of passwords to try. If you find the correct password, you can write it down or save it somewhere safe. If you don’t find the correct password, you can try to use a different word list or a different Python script with more rules or filters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: What is LUKS and why is it secure?

Answer: LUKS is a standard for disk encryption in Linux. It allows you to create encrypted partitions that can only be accessed with a passphrase or a key file. LUKS uses a strong encryption algorithm (such as AES) and a key derivation function (such as PBKDF2) to protect your data from unauthorized access.

The advantage of LUKS is that it is very secure and reliable. Even if someone gets physical access to your drive, they won’t be able to read your data without knowing your passphrase or having your key file. The disadvantage of LUKS is that if you forget your passphrase or lose your key file, you won’t be able to access your data either. There is no backdoor or recovery option in LUKS, so you have to remember your password or keep your key file safe.

Question: How to generate permutations for a forgotten LUKS password?

Answer: If you have forgotten your LUKS password, you might still have a chance to recover it if you remember some parts of it or have some clues about it. For example, you might remember that your password was a combination of words, numbers, and symbols, or that it contained some specific characters or patterns. In that case, you can use a word list and a Python script to generate permutations of possible passwords and try them one by one until you find the right one.

A word list is a file that contains a list of words, numbers, or symbols that you think might be part of your password. For example, you can use a word list of common English words, or a word list of your favorite movies, books, or hobbies. You can find many word lists online, or you can create your own. The more words you have in your word list, the more permutations you can generate, but also the more time it will take to try them all.

A Python script is a program that you can write and run on your computer to perform a specific task. In this case, you can write a Python script that takes a word list as input and generates permutations of words, numbers, and symbols as output. You can also add some rules or filters to your script to make it more efficient and accurate. For example, you can specify the length of your password, the order of the words, the case of the letters, or the presence of certain characters or patterns.

To run the Python script, you need to have Python installed on your computer. You also need to have access to a terminal or a command-line interface, where you can type commands and execute programs. You can use the terminal of your Linux system, or you can use a live CD or a USB stick with a Linux distribution that has Python pre-installed.

Question: How long does it take to recover a forgotten LUKS password?

Answer: The time it takes to recover a forgotten LUKS password depends on several factors, such as:

• The length and complexity of your password
• The size and quality of your word list
• The speed and performance of your computer
• The number and frequency of your attempts

In general, the longer and more complex your password is, the harder it is to recover. The larger and more diverse your word list is, the more permutations you can generate, but also the more time it will take to try them all. The faster and more powerful your computer is, the quicker it can run the Python script and the cryptsetup command. The more attempts you make per minute, the higher the chances of finding the correct password, but also the higher the risk of triggering a lockout mechanism or damaging your drive.

Therefore, there is no definitive answer to how long it takes to recover a forgotten LUKS password. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to a few days to a few weeks, depending on your situation and luck. However, you can try to estimate the time it will take by using some simple math. For example, if your password is 8 characters long, and your word list contains 1000 words, and your Python script generates 4 permutations per word, and your computer can try 10 passwords per minute, then you can calculate the time as follows:

• Number of permutations = 1000 x 4 = 4000
• Number of minutes = 4000 / 10 = 400
• Number of hours = 400 / 60 = 6.67

This means that it will take about 6.67 hours to try all the permutations from the word list. Of course, this is just an approximation, and the actual time may vary depending on other factors.

Question: How secure is LUKS encryption?

Answer: LUKS encryption is very secure and reliable, as long as you use a strong password and a secure key file. LUKS uses a strong encryption algorithm (such as AES) and a key derivation function (such as PBKDF2) to protect your data from unauthorized access. LUKS also supports multiple passwords and key files, which can be stored in different locations and devices, adding an extra layer of security and convenience.

However, no encryption system is 100% secure, and there are always some risks and limitations involved. For example, LUKS encryption can be vulnerable to:

• Brute force attacks, where someone tries to guess your password or key file by using a word list, a dictionary, or a random generator. This is why you should use a long and complex password and a secure key file, and avoid using common or predictable words or patterns.
• Physical attacks, where someone gets physical access to your drive or device and tries to bypass or break the encryption by using hardware or software tools. This is why you should keep your drive or device in a safe and locked place, and use a tamper-proof or self-destruct mechanism if possible.
• Human errors, where you forget your password or lose your key file, or where you accidentally delete or overwrite your data. This is why you should remember your password or keep your key file safe, and make regular backups of your data.

Question: What are some alternatives to LUKS encryption?

Answer: LUKS encryption is one of the most popular and widely used methods of disk encryption in Linux, but it is not the only one. There are some alternatives to LUKS encryption, such as:

• VeraCrypt, which is a free and open-source software that can create encrypted volumes and containers, as well as encrypt entire disks and partitions. VeraCrypt is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, and supports multiple encryption algorithms and modes. VeraCrypt is based on the discontinued TrueCrypt project, but it has fixed some of its security issues and added some new features and enhancements. You can download VeraCrypt from [here].

• dm-crypt, which is a transparent disk encryption subsystem in the Linux kernel that can encrypt disks, partitions, or files. dm-crypt uses device mapper to create virtual devices that are mapped to the encrypted devices. dm-crypt supports multiple encryption algorithms and modes, and can be used with LUKS or plain mode. dm-crypt is a low-level tool that requires some technical knowledge and commands to use. You can learn more about dm-crypt from [here].
• eCryptfs, which is a stacked filesystem that can encrypt individual files or directories on a disk. eCryptfs uses the Linux kernel cryptographic API to perform encryption and decryption. eCryptfs supports multiple encryption algorithms and modes, and can be integrated with the user’s login password or key files. eCryptfs is a high-level tool that is easy to use and transparent to the user. You can learn more about eCryptfs from [here].

Summary

In this article, we have learned how to recover a forgotten LUKS password using a word list and a Python script. We have explained what LUKS is and why it is secure, how to generate permutations of possible passwords, and what are the steps to follow. We have also answered some frequently asked questions and provided some alternatives to LUKS encryption.

We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. We do not encourage or condone the use of any of the methods or tools described in this article for illegal or unethical purposes. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from the use or misuse of any of the methods or tools described in this article. Use them at your own risk and discretion. Always backup your data and follow the best practices of disk encryption and password management.