😮 Most people don’t even know this is possible.
If you are an admin or have database access, you can copy your own hashed password, paste it into another user’s record, and then log in as that user using your password.
⚡ When people discover this for the first time, the reaction is usually shock:
“Wait… I didn’t know this was possible. That sounds like a huge security issue!”
😰 It feels like something is very wrong.
✅ In reality, this behavior is expected, intentional, and actually proves that the password system is working correctly.
This article explains — from absolute basics — why this happens, what is really going on under the hood, and why it is not a security flaw.
🔰 Let’s Start From Absolute Basics
What Is a Password?
A password is a secret known only to the user.
A secure system must:
- ✅ Verify the password
- ❌ Never store it in readable form
- ❌ Never be able to retrieve it
If a system can read your password later, it is already insecure.
❌ The Most Common Wrong Assumption
Many people believe:
“The system stores my password and checks it during login.”
This is false.
A secure system never stores passwords.
🔐 Then What Does the System Store?
Instead of storing the password, systems store a hash.
A hash is:
- A one‑way mathematical transformation
- Impossible to reverse
- Always the same for the same input (with the same salt)
Example:
Password: admin@123
Hash: X9A7f...Qm==
You can recreate the hash again — but you cannot get the password back.
Hashing Is NOT Encryption (Very Important)
| Encryption | Hashing |
|---|---|
| Reversible | One‑way |
| Has a key | No key |
| Can be decrypted | Cannot be reversed |
| Used for data | Used for passwords |
Passwords must be hashed, not encrypted.
How Modern Frameworks Store Passwords (Example: Django)
When a user is created:
- The password is taken
- A random salt is added
- A strong algorithm (PBKDF2 / bcrypt / Argon2) is applied
- The process is repeated thousands of times
- Only the final hash is stored
Example stored value:
pbkdf2_sha256$870000$salt$hash
This value is not the password.
🔄 How Login Actually Works
When a user logs in:
- User enters a password
- The system:
- Uses the same algorithm
- Uses the same salt
- Hashes the entered password
- Compares the result with the stored hash
If both hashes match → login succeeds.
👉 The password is never read, never retrieved, never decrypted.
Now the Part That Confuses Most People
As an admin, you may notice:
- You can see hashed passwords in the database
- You copy your own hash
- You paste it into another user’s password field
- You log in as that user using your password
- And it works
This feels alarming.
Many conclude:
“Hashing must be broken.”
It isn’t.
💡 What Actually Happened (Key Insight)
You did not discover the other user’s password.
You did this instead:
You replaced their password with your password.
Now both users:
- Have the same hash
- Have the same password
- Use the same authentication secret
A Simple Real‑World Analogy
Think of a password hash as a lock, not a key.
- You didn’t copy someone’s key
- You replaced their lock with your lock
If two doors use the same lock, the same key opens both.
That does not mean the lock was cracked.
🛡️ Why This Is NOT a Security Bug
This behavior exists because:
- Passwords cannot be recovered
- Authentication works via hash comparison
- Admins must be able to reset access
If this didn’t work, the system would be trying to decrypt passwords — which would be a serious security flaw.
So ironically:
This behavior proves the system is designed correctly.
What This Does NOT Mean
This does NOT mean:
- ❌ Passwords can be decrypted
- ❌ Hashes are reversible
- ❌ Frameworks like Django are insecure
- ❌ Admins can see real passwords
It only means:
- ✅ Hashes define access
- ✅ Replacing a hash replaces the password
🚨 Why You Should NEVER Do This in Production
Even though it works, manually copying hashes is bad practice.
Risks include:
- Account takeover
- No audit trail
- Insider abuse
- Compliance violations
- Legal exposure
The Correct Way for Admins to Handle Passwords
- Use password reset flows
- Set temporary passwords
- Force password change on next login
- Use built‑in admin tools
Never:
- Copy hashes
- Share credentials
- Bypass reset mechanisms
Why Hashed Passwords Are Still the Best Approach
Even if:
- A database is leaked
- Backups are stolen
- Admin access is compromised
Attackers still:
- Cannot read passwords
- Cannot reverse hashes
- Must brute‑force each account individually
This is why:
- Banks use hashing
- Enterprises use hashing
- Frameworks use hashing by default
🧠 Final Takeaway
Authentication systems never retrieve passwords.
They only compare hashes.
Copying a hash replaces a password — it does not reveal it.
Once this concept is understood, most password‑related confusion disappears.
If you found this useful, share it — because this misunderstanding is far more common than it should be.
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