OpenOffice Security: Risks of Password Recovery Tools and Attacks

Security experts have warned that password recovery tools for OpenOffice, the open-source application suite, are vulnerable to abuse.

The release of version 1.0.4 of Intelore's OpenOffice Password Recovery software on Thursday allows IT managers and systems administrators to recover OpenOffice passwords and discard formatting and editing restrictions--for example, locked cell protection and permissions. The software allows password recovery through brute force and dictionary-based attacks, or a combination of both.

"Even if you have lost passwords for all your OpenOffice programs and documents, Intelore's solution can help you quicker than any similar program--OpenOffice Password Recovery supports simultaneous processing of several recovery projects with different attack profiles," said Dmitry Rozenbaum, chief executive officer of Intelore.