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Encrypted PDF

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mrpumba
(@mrpumba)
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Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 116
Topic starter  

I am currently working a case where there are 3 encrypted PDF files that was captured by FTK. I was going to use PRTK but PRTK does not do PDF files. Does anyone have a good program or way to decrypt PDF files?


   
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(@Anonymous 6593)
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Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 1158
 

What PDF version? This depends entirely on what kind of password is used.

John the Ripper, with jumbo patch 5, supports at least some. Of course, it's a question of time, compute power, dictionaries, etc, as usual. I'd use this one, mainly because the flexibility I have to structures the attack.

There are other, of course, Elcomsoft has its Advanced PDF Password Recovery product, which is somewhat faster, but less flexible.


   
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(@eyez0n)
Eminent Member
Joined: 18 years ago
Posts: 29
 

Passware (http//www.lostpassword.com/) has always worked for me in the past. I haven't had a need to use it for quite a while but have recetly run across the need once again so the newest version is on order. I will let you know how it works once we get it.

It is is pretty inexpensive considering how powerful it is.


   
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mrpumba
(@mrpumba)
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Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 116
Topic starter  

Great, thanks for the info, I'll try that.


   
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Passmark
(@passmark)
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Joined: 14 years ago
Posts: 376
 

OSforensics also does it.
Free edition is single threaded. Paid edition is multithreaded & thus faster.
Can also take make an index of all words on the hard drive (from other non encrypted documents) then use that index in a brute force attack on the encrypted files.


   
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markg43
(@markg43)
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Joined: 18 years ago
Posts: 77
 

I am currently working a case where there are 3 encrypted PDF files that was captured by FTK. I was going to use PRTK but PRTK does not do PDF files. Does anyone have a good program or way to decrypt PDF files?

Why do you think PRTK does not do PDF? I checked and mine does - through Acrobat v9.1

I would recommend some tuning on PRTK and using an exported wordlist as others mentioned.

/M


   
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mrpumba
(@mrpumba)
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Joined: 15 years ago
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Topic starter  

What version of PRTK are you using. I have 6.5.1 and when I tried loading them into PRTK, the program advised they were unrecognized files. I checked the file list of files (under Help)and Adobe was not on the list, which led me to my conclusion?? Maybe I'm wrong.
Although, I looked through my mound of disk and noticed I received a copy of Passware Kit in one class I took with a license for…….PDF code breaking…….what are the chances. I loaded the files into Passware Kit and within 5 minutes broke the code.


   
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markg43
(@markg43)
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Joined: 18 years ago
Posts: 77
 

I have 6.5.2

You checked Help > Recovery Modules and did not see it? This opens an HTML file in your browser. Do an CTRL-F and search for Adobe. You should find it above PFX and below PCEncrypt.

Did passware recover the password, or just decrypt w/o password? If password, how many characters and was it a dictionary word?

The last part is just because I am curious due to the 5 minutes/

Thanks


   
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mrpumba
(@mrpumba)
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Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 116
Topic starter  

They show as encrypted pdf files. What I did was exported then and tried to dbl click, which brought the prompt asking for a password. That's when I tried with PRTK and received the response I explained. I also checked as you described and no Adobe was found. I will check with accessdata site and d/l the newer version. Maybe they added PDF for the mix with 6.5.2???


   
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