No password hashes loaded (see FAQ)

Question

I have created a hash for password protected PDF with John The Ripper which looks like: Protected.pdf:$pdf$2*3*128*-3904*1*16*fa8b5911e99eb1a6d74b033402dce8d0*:::::../../Protected.pdf

and it is saved in key.hash file in root folder. When I run the command john ../../key.hash it returns error No password hashes loaded (see FAQ) I'm using John The Ripper [john-1.8.0-jumbo-1], in ubuntu

Solution

You must specify the format using the option --format=pdf example:

sudo john --format=pdf hashfile.txt

where hashfile.txt must contain the hash generated by pdf2john

Comments

[djsmiley2kStaysInside]

Where are you running the command, give the output of pwd please - ../../ means 2 directories above where you're running it from, is this actually what you want, or did you just copy this from somewhere?

[psudo]

yes, I'm well aware of that. My key.hash file is located in /root/key.hash and the tool is located in /root/john-1.8.0-jumbo-1/run

[Nalaurien]

does it still not work if you use the absolute path?

[psudo]

Yes, it is still not working. I tried by moving key.hash file to /root/john-1.8.0-jumbo-1/run` directory also.

[Nalaurien]

ok how exactly did you create this hash.

[Ravindra Bawane]

How? Where? This may be helpful information, but without context and explanation it is just a comment, and not an answer.

[DimiDak]

@music2myear This is a clear answer.

[Ravindra Bawane]

@DimiDak it wasn't when I made that comment. The comment was a single line, the first line, without the "... example:" bit or following. The author edited the answer the next day adding the rest of the information making it the clear answer you see now.