How to decrypt a password from SQL server?

Question

I have this query in sql server 2000:

select pwdencrypt(\'AAAA\')

which outputs an encrypted string of \'AAAA\':

0x0100CF465B7B1         


        

Answer 1

A quick google indicates that pwdencrypt() is not deterministic, and your statement select pwdencrypt('AAAA') returns a different value on my installation!

See also this article http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/07/08/cracking_ms_sql_server_passwords/