fortify scan: Weak Cryptographic Hash (Security Features, Semantic)

 Weak cryptographic hashes cannot guarantee data integrity and should not be used in security-critical contexts.

Explanation:

MD2, MD4, MD5, RIPEMD-160, and SHA-1 are popular cryptographic hash algorithms often used to verify the integrity of messages and other data. However, as recent cryptanalysis research has revealed fundamental weaknesses in these algorithms, they should no longer be used within security-critical contexts.

Effective techniques for breaking MD and RIPEMD hashes are widely available, so those algorithms should not be relied upon for security. In the case of SHA-1, current techniques still require a significant amount of computational power and are more difficult to implement. However, attackers have found the Achilles' heel for the algorithm, and techniques for breaking it will likely lead to the discovery of even faster attacks.

Recommendations:

Discontinue the use of MD2, MD4, MD5, RIPEMD-160, and SHA-1 for data-verification in security-critical contexts. Currently, SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, and SHA-3 are good alternatives. However, these variants of the Secure Hash Algorithm have not been scrutinized as closely as SHA-1, so be mindful of future research that might impact the security of these algorithms.