Understanding the ForgeRock Password Storage Scheme

Migrating user authentication from ForgeRock to another platform without knowing users' passwords involves transferring password hashes, salts, and the number of hashing iterations. Password hashing is a process where a string is transformed using an algorithm to produce a hash, which, when secure, is not reversible to its original form. Hashing functions like SHA-256, PBKDF2, and Bcrypt are commonly used, and the addition of a salt ensures unique hashes for identical passwords. Iterations refer to the repeated application of the hashing algorithm, enhancing security by slowing down potential attackers. ForgeRock uses PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 for hashing, storing the hash and salt in a base64 encoded format. By understanding and decoding this format, it is possible to obtain the necessary components to recreate the same hash in a new system, allowing seamless user migration without password resets.