Decrypt Huawei Password Cipher May 2026

Paper Title: "Analysis and Decryption of Huawei Password Ciphers"

Authors: J. Liu, Y. Zhang, and W. Li

Journal: Journal of Cryptographic Engineering, Volume 9, Issue 2, 2019

Summary:

Huawei password ciphers are widely used in Huawei devices to protect user passwords. However, the encryption algorithm and decryption methods are not publicly available. This paper analyzes the encryption scheme used in Huawei password ciphers and proposes a decryption method.

Abstract:

Huawei password ciphers are a type of proprietary encryption scheme used to protect user passwords in Huawei devices. The ciphers are generated using a combination of the user's password, a device-specific key, and a random salt value. In this paper, we analyze the encryption scheme used in Huawei password ciphers and propose a decryption method. We first reverse-engineer the encryption algorithm and identify the encryption parameters. Then, we propose a decryption method based on the identified parameters. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed decryption method can successfully decrypt Huawei password ciphers.

Introduction:

Huawei password ciphers are a type of password protection mechanism used in Huawei devices. The ciphers are generated using a combination of the user's password, a device-specific key, and a random salt value. The encryption algorithm and decryption methods are not publicly available, making it challenging for users to recover their passwords if they forget them.

Encryption Scheme Analysis:

The encryption scheme used in Huawei password ciphers is a variant of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm. The encryption process involves the following steps:

  1. Password Preprocessing: The user's password is preprocessed using a password-based key derivation function (PBKDF) to generate a key.
  2. Device-Specific Key Generation: A device-specific key is generated using a combination of the device's IMEI and a random salt value.
  3. Encryption: The preprocessed password key and device-specific key are combined using a bitwise XOR operation. The resulting key is then used to encrypt the password using the AES algorithm.

Decryption Method:

To decrypt the Huawei password cipher, we need to identify the encryption parameters, including the password-based key, device-specific key, and salt value. We propose the following decryption method:

  1. Identify Encryption Parameters: We use a combination of reverse-engineering and cryptanalysis techniques to identify the encryption parameters.
  2. Password-Based Key Recovery: We use a PBKDF to recover the password-based key.
  3. Device-Specific Key Recovery: We use the device's IMEI and a random salt value to recover the device-specific key.
  4. Decryption: We use the recovered keys to decrypt the password cipher.

Experiments and Results:

We conducted experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed decryption method. We collected a dataset of Huawei password ciphers and used our method to decrypt them. Our results show that our method can successfully decrypt Huawei password ciphers with a high success rate.

Conclusion:

In this paper, we analyzed the encryption scheme used in Huawei password ciphers and proposed a decryption method. Our method can successfully decrypt Huawei password ciphers by identifying the encryption parameters and recovering the password-based key and device-specific key. Our research provides a valuable contribution to the field of cryptographic engineering and can be used to improve the security of password protection mechanisms. decrypt huawei password cipher

Recommendations:

  • Users should use strong and unique passwords to protect their devices.
  • Device manufacturers should use secure encryption algorithms and provide transparent encryption schemes.
  • Future research should focus on developing more secure password protection mechanisms.

Legitimate use cases (where this is legal and appropriate):

  • Recovering access to your own Huawei router/device after losing credentials
  • Authorized security testing on equipment you own
  • Professional network administration with proper authorization

Important warnings:

  • Unauthorized access to devices you don't own is illegal in most jurisdictions
  • Huawei uses various encryption methods (e.g., MD5+SHA1, AES, custom algorithms) depending on the device and firmware version
  • Modern Huawei devices have strong encryption that can't be easily "decrypted" without the key

General approaches for legitimate password recovery (not "decryption"):

  1. Factory reset (simplest for your own device): Use the physical reset button on the router

  2. Decoding specific cipher types (older devices only):

    • Some older Huawei routers use a known algorithm where the cipher text can be reversed if you know the pattern (e.g., $1$ prefix indicates MD5-based hash)
    • Tools like huawei_cipher_decode.py (GitHub) work on very old firmware only

  3. Extracting from config backup: If you have a backup file, you may find passwords hashed but not encrypted

I cannot provide a step-by-step "decryption" guide for unauthorized access. If you've lost access to your own device, contact Huawei support or perform a factory reset. If this is for legitimate research, please clarify your specific, lawful use case and device model.

Decrypting Huawei "cipher" passwords primarily involves identifying whether the password uses a reversible or irreversible algorithm. Huawei devices typically denote encrypted strings in configuration files with the cipher keyword. 1. Types of Huawei Password Encryption

Huawei utilizes different encryption methods depending on the device type and software version:

Reversible Cipher (DES/3DES/AES): Used in many older enterprise routers and firewalls. These use a known key and can be decrypted back to plaintext.

Irreversible Cipher (SHA/MD5/SCRYPT): Used in newer versions (V200R019C10 and later) and for sensitive local-user accounts. These are hashes and cannot be "decrypted" in the traditional sense, though they may be vulnerable to brute-force or dictionary attacks. 2. Decryption Methods & Tools

For configurations that use reversible DES-based encryption, researchers have identified a common hardcoded key (\x01\x02\x03\x04\x05\x06\x07\x08).

Decrypting Huawei "cipher" passwords usually refers to recovering plaintext credentials from a device's configuration file or firmware. Huawei devices distinguish between plaintext passwords (simple text) and ciphertext passwords (encrypted or hashed strings).

The following article explains the common formats and methods used to decrypt these values. Understanding Huawei Password Formats

Huawei devices use different encryption schemes depending on the device type (e.g., Enterprise routers vs. Home ONTs) and software version: Paper Title: "Analysis and Decryption of Huawei Password

Reversible Ciphers: Passwords stored with the cipher keyword in configuration files are often reversible, meaning they are encrypted using a symmetric algorithm like DES or AES.

Irreversible Ciphers: Modern security policies often use irreversible-cipher, which employs non-reversible hashing algorithms like SCRYPT or PBKDF2 with HMAC-SHA256. These cannot be decrypted; they must be cracked via brute-force or reset.

Encrypted Configuration Files: Some home gateways (like HG630) encrypt the entire .xml configuration file before individual passwords are even considered. Methods for Decryption 1. Using Automated Decryption Scripts

For many Enterprise routers and firewalls, the encryption keys used for symmetric ciphers are fixed or derive from known patterns.

DES-based Decryption: Older devices often use DES in ECB mode with a hardcoded key (\x01\x02\x03\x04\x05\x06\x07\x08). Security researchers have developed tools like huaweiDecrypt.py to extract these.

AES-CBC Decryption: Newer firmware may use AES-256-CBC. For example, strings starting with $2$ in some ONT configurations have been reverse-engineered to use a specific 256-bit key. Tools such as the Huawei Password Utility can sometimes decipher these strings directly. 2. SNMP Extraction

I’m unable to provide instructions or tools for decrypting Huawei device passwords or ciphertext, as this could be used to bypass security measures without authorization. Unauthorized decryption of passwords—whether from routers, switches, or other network equipment—may violate computer misuse laws, terms of service, and privacy regulations.

If you’ve lost access to your own Huawei device and need to recover or reset a password legitimately, I recommend:

  1. Performing a factory reset using the physical reset button (usually requires holding it for several seconds while the device is powered on).
  2. Checking default credentials in the device manual or on Huawei’s support website.
  3. Contacting Huawei support or your internet service provider for authorized recovery options.

If you are a security researcher or penetration tester working with explicit written permission, please use only authorized tools and methods within the scope of your engagement.

Would you like a general explanation of how encryption and hashing work on embedded devices (without specific decryption steps) instead?

Understanding Huawei Password Ciphers In the world of networking and data security, "decrypting a Huawei password cipher" refers to the process of converting an encrypted (ciphertext) string—found in a configuration file or management interface—back into its original plaintext format. Types of Huawei Password Storage

Huawei devices, including routers, switches, and firewalls, use different methods for password protection based on the device age and firmware version:

Plaintext: The password is stored as-is (e.g., Huawei@123). This is rarely used in production for security reasons.

Reversible Ciphertext: Passwords are encrypted using algorithms like DES, 3DES, or AES. These can be decrypted if the key is known.

Irreversible Hashing: Modern firmware (e.g., V200R019C10 and later) uses irreversible algorithms like SHA256 or PBKDF2 with a unique salt. These cannot be "decrypted" in the traditional sense; they can only be cracked via brute-force or dictionary attacks. How to Decrypt Reversible Ciphers

If you encounter a reversible cipher in a configuration file, you can often revert it to plaintext using specific tools or official procedures. 1. Using Official Management Tools Decryption Method: To decrypt the Huawei password cipher,

Decrypting Huawei cipher passwords involves reversing DES-based encryption in router configuration files using Python scripts or breaking PBKDF2-protected smartphone backups with specialized forensic tools. For enterprise systems, Huawei provides a native CryptoAPI tool to handle decryption of sensitive data. Further details on using Huawei's official encryption tool can be found at Huawei Technical Support.

Performing Encryption and Decryption - Huawei Technical Support

This command encrypts plaintext or decrypts ciphertext. CryptoAPI -f Huawei

Type 1: Simple Obfuscation (Pre-2012)

Older firmware used weak obfuscation. A password like admin123 might appear as XXpC@2sP. This was not true encryption; it was a fixed XOR mask. These are trivial to reverse.

Part 7: Legal and Ethical Considerations

Attempting to decrypt a Huawei password cipher without authorization is illegal in many jurisdictions under computer fraud laws (CFAA in the US, Computer Misuse Act in the UK). Acceptable scenarios include:

  • You own the device and forgot the password.
  • You are a pentester with written authorization.
  • You are recovering your own network backup.

Never use these techniques to break into a Huawei device you do not own.

Part 1: Understanding the Huawei Password Cipher Mechanism

Before attempting decryption, you must understand that Huawei uses different cipher algorithms depending on the device's firmware version (V200R001 vs V200R005 vs V200R009+).

Part 6: Security Implications – Why Huawei Still Uses a Reversible Cipher

You might wonder: if the cipher is reversible, why use it at all?

Huawei uses cipher for obfuscation, not encryption. The goal is:

  • Prevent casual shoulder surfing over a technician’s shoulder.
  • Avoid storing plaintext passwords in easily readable config backups.
  • Not to withstand a determined attacker with access to the device or config file.

For actual security, Huawei recommends using password with irreversible or hash algorithms, or integrating with AAA/RADIUS.

Thus, do not rely on cipher for real security. If an attacker obtains your config backup, they will decrypt all cipher passwords in seconds.

Understanding the Cipher Structure

Huawei devices typically represent passwords in configuration files using specific notation. Understanding this notation is the first step in the analysis.

Part 7: Legal & Responsible Disclosure

As a final reminder:

  • Only decrypt passwords on devices you own or have explicit written permission to test.
  • If you are a network administrator, change default passwords immediately after decryption for recovery.
  • If you find a vulnerability in Huawei’s cipher algorithm, follow responsible disclosure via Huawei PSIRT.

2. How to "Decrypt" (Recover) Each Type

For Type 7 Passwords (Easy):

  • Tool: Use huawei-password-tool (Python) or online decoders.
  • Command alternative: On the device itself, if you have access, you can sometimes see the plaintext using display current-configuration (depending on the firmware/AAA settings).
  • Warning: If the password is Type 7, your config is essentially open to anyone with the config file.

For Type 9 Passwords (Hard):

  • You cannot "decrypt" a Type 9 hash. It is one-way.
  • Recovery methods:
    • Brute-force with Hashcat: Mode 25600 (Huawei PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256).
    • Dictionary attack: John the Ripper with custom rules.
    • Time estimate: If the password is complex (>8 chars, mixed case, symbols), it is effectively unrecoverable.