What are common mistakes developers make with password hashing (PBKDF2, etc

Password hashing is an essential aspect of secure password storage, but developers often make critical mistakes. Here are some common pitfalls when using hashing functions like PBKDF2:

  • Using Insufficient Iterations: Not increasing the number of iterations can make your hashes vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
  • Using the Same Salt: Reusing salts across multiple passwords can lead to easier attacks on your hashes.
  • Neglecting Peppering: Forgetting to implement a secret pepper to further protect against attacks can weaken hashing security.
  • Improperly Handling Errors: Indiscriminately exposing errors related to unsuccessful login attempts can provide attackers with useful information.
  • Not Validating Password Complexity: Allowing weak passwords to be hashed can lead to easily guessable results, making it essential to enforce strong password policies.

Implementing a secure password hashing strategy is crucial for safeguarding sensitive user information.