How to Use the 'nth' Command (with Examples)

The ’nth’ command, which stands for “Name That Hash,” is a versatile tool designed for identifying the type of hash used in cryptographic operations. It is highly useful for cybersecurity experts, digital forensic analysts, and developers who work with cryptographic hashes frequently. The tool can promptly recognize hundreds of hash algorithms. It can process single hashes, batches of hashes in files, and even work with Base64 encoded data, providing results in practical formats like JSON. The ’nth’ tool is an open-source utility available on platforms supporting Python, and its main goal is to aid in hash identification tasks effortlessly.

Use case 1: Name a Hash

Code:

nth -t 5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99

Motivation:
Identifying a single hash type can be crucial in various scenarios such as debugging an error, checking if a password hash has been compromised, or when reverse engineering software to learn its security mechanisms. The ability to instantly recognize a hash type can save valuable time and guide the next steps in analysis or mitigation.

Explanation:

• nth: The command name, calling the “Name That Hash” utility.
• -t: The flag that specifies that a single hash text will be provided as input.
• 5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99: The hash itself, which the user needs to identify.

Example Output:

MD5:  The hash is recognized as an MD5 hash. This is a widely used but now obsolete hash algorithm due to its vulnerabilities to hash collisions.

Use case 2: Name Hashes in a File

Code:

nth -f path/to/hashes

Motivation:
When analyzing logs or large datasets containing multiple hashes, it becomes impractical to check hashes individually. Automating the identification process of hash types in bulk enhances efficiency, allowing analysts to focus on further steps like converting these hashes to plaintext with the correct algorithms if needed.

Explanation:

• -f: This option tells ’nth’ that the input is a file containing multiple hashes, not just a singular hash.
• path/to/hashes: The path to the file containing a list of hashes that require identification. Each hash should be on a separate line in the file.

Example Output:

path/to/hashes:
1. 5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99: MD5
2. d4735e3a265e16eee03f59718b9b5d03b500a6de: SHA-1
3. 9e107d9d372bb6826bd81d3542a419d6: MD5

Use case 3: Print in JSON Format

Code:

nth -t 5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99 -g

Motivation:
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a widely accepted data interchange format known for its readability and ease of parsing by computers. When the hash identification needs to be utilized in an application or further automated processing, JSON format facilitates seamless integration and handling of the output data.

Explanation:

• -t: Indicates a single hash input.
• 5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99: The hash to be identified.
• -g: This flag directs the ’nth’ command to output results in JSON format, allowing for easy interaction with various programming environments.

Example Output:

{
  "input": "5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99",
  "hash_type": "MD5"
}

Use case 4: Decode Hash in Base64 Before Naming It

Code:

nth -t NWY0ZGNjM2I1YWE3NjVkNjFkODMyN2RlYjg4MmNmOTkK -b64

Motivation:
Hashes are sometimes transmitted in encoded formats like Base64 to ensure data integrity during transfer, especially over channels that are not binary-safe or to encode binary data as text. This command and option usage serves professionals who need to decode Base64 hashes into their binary form to identify them correctly.

Explanation:

• -t: This option signifies that a specific hash is to be passed for identification.
• NWY0ZGNjM2I1YWE3NjVkNjFkODMyN2RlYjg4MmNmOTkK: The input hash encoded in Base64 format.
• -b64: This flag tells ’nth’ to first decode the provided Base64 string back into its original hash form before determining its hash type.

Example Output:

The Base64 decoded hash is: 5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99
MD5: The decoded hash is identified as an MD5 hash.

Conclusion:

The ’nth’ command is an indispensable tool when working with hash types, providing features to identify hashes both individually and in bulk, presenting data in easily processable formats, and handling encoded inputs like Base64. This powerful tool significantly enhances workflows in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and software development by simplifying what could be complex and tedious tasks, thus streamlining the path to better security and data management practices.