🔐 Forgotten Passwords & Login Issues: Deep Dive

🔐 Forgotten Passwords & Login Issues: Deep Dive

🧠 Start with Context

Questions to ask:

• Is this local, domain, cloud, or service-based?
• Is encryption enabled (e.g., FileVault, BitLocker)?
• Any password hints, secondary auth, or backup access?
• Do you have physical access to the device?

---

💻 1. Local OS Login (macOS / Windows / Linux)

🔧 macOS

• FileVault enabled?
  • If yes, only users with the recovery key or Apple ID can unlock.
• Reset Password Options:
  • With Apple ID: Try clicking the ? or Reset it using Apple ID after several failed attempts.
  • Single-user mode (Intel Macs):
  • bash
  • mount -uw / rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone reboot Then you create a new admin user.
  • Recovery Mode Terminal:
  • bash
  • resetpassword For Ventura+ you may need resetPassword (note the capitalization).
• T2 / Apple Silicon Macs: Much harder due to secure boot—may require Erase + Reinstall if no access to recovery key or Apple ID.

🔧 Windows

• Offline NT Password & Registry Editor:
  • Bootable tool to reset local account passwords.
• Windows Recovery CMD Trick:
  • Replace utilman.exe with cmd.exe from recovery console:
  • cmd
  • copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe Then reboot, hit Windows + U at login to launch CMD.
• Microsoft Account: Use account.live.com/password/reset

🔧 Linux

• Grub Boot Param:
  • Edit boot parameters:
  • bash
  • init=/bin/bash Then: bashCopyEditmount -o remount,rw / passwd root exec /sbin/init
• Live CD Rescue: Mount the disk, chroot, and reset the password.

---

☁️ 2. Cloud Accounts / SaaS (Microsoft 365, Google, AWS, etc.)

• Always start with the official recovery process—do not try brute-force techniques.
• Multi-Factor Reset: If MFA is lost, recovery codes or backup methods (email/SMS/token) are required.
• Admin Backdoor (Org-based accounts):
  • If you’re the admin of a tenant, use admin recovery to reset users.
• Cloud CLI options:
  • Azure AD:
  • powershell
  • Connect-AzureAD Set-AzureADUserPassword -ObjectId <user> -Password <new-pass>

---

🖥️ 3. Servers: ESXi, vCenter, Linux, AD DC, etc.

🔧 ESXi Host

• No built-in password reset.
• Boot into Tech Support Mode (Troubleshooting Mode):
  • Use Linux shell to reset password via passwd root
  • Or rebuild state.tgz if needed.
• If root password is totally lost:
  • Reinstall ESXi and preserve VMFS datastore.

🔧 vCenter Appliance (VCSA)

• GRUB boot with rw
• init=/bin/bash Editpasswd root
  • Then restart and login via shell.

🔧 Windows AD Domain Controller

• If all domain admins are locked out:
  • Use DsrSetPassword or ntdsutil in Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM).
  • Boot in DSRM and reset using: cmdCopyEditntdsutil

---

🛠️ 4. Advanced: Firmware, BMC/iDRAC/iLO, BIOS, etc.

🔧 BIOS/UEFI Passwords

• Usually stored in NVRAM.
• Clear CMOS or use jumper/pin short on motherboard.
• Some laptops require manufacturer master key.

🔧 iDRAC / iLO / BMC

• Physical access or SSH to reset:
  • Dell iDRAC:
  • bash
  • racadm set iDRAC.Users.2.Password yournewpassword
  • HP iLO: bashCopyEdithpiLO-> reset /map1/accounts1/username

---

🧱 5. Encrypted Devices

• Without recovery key, brute-force is virtually impossible.
• Look for:
  • Key escrow in MDM / AD
  • iCloud / Microsoft Recovery
  • TPM-bound keys (Azure AD joined)

---

🧰 Tools That Can Help

Tool	Use Case
Offline NT Password Editor	Windows local accounts
Kon-Boot	Bypass password (some older systems)
Hiren’s BootCD PE	General recovery toolkit
chntpw	Linux-based Windows registry editor
Rescatux / SystemRescueCD	Linux/GRUB/system recovery
Apple Configurator	Wipe/recover iOS/macOS supervised devices

---

🧼 Best Practices (Post-Recovery)

• Implement MFA everywhere.
• Use a password manager.
• Store recovery keys securely (Bitwarden, iCloud, M365 admin).
• Monitor logs for unauthorized access.