[discrete]
[[hashing-settings]]
=== User cache and password hash algorithms

Certain realms store user credentials in memory. To limit exposure
to credential theft and mitigate credential compromise, the cache only stores
a hashed version of the user credentials in memory. By default, the user cache
is hashed with a salted `sha-256` hash algorithm. You can use a different
hashing algorithm by setting the <<static-cluster-setting,static>>
`cache.hash_algo` realm settings to any of the following values:

[[cache-hash-algo]]
.Cache hash algorithms
|=======================
| Algorithm               | | | Description
| `ssha256`               | | | Uses a salted `sha-256` algorithm (default).
| `md5`                   | | | Uses `MD5` algorithm.
| `sha1`                  | | | Uses `SHA1` algorithm.
| `bcrypt`                | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 1024 rounds.
| `bcrypt4`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 16 rounds.
| `bcrypt5`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 32 rounds.
| `bcrypt6`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 64 rounds.
| `bcrypt7`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 128 rounds.
| `bcrypt8`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 256 rounds.
| `bcrypt9`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 512 rounds.
| `pbkdf2`                | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_1000`           | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_10000`          | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_50000`          | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 50000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_100000`         | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 100000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_500000`         | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                              pseudorandom function using 500000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_1000000`        | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_stretch`        | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_1000`   | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_10000`  | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_50000`  | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 50000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_100000` | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 100000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_500000` | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 500000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_1000000`| | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `noop`,`clear_text`     | | | Doesn't hash the credentials and keeps it in clear text in
                            memory. CAUTION: keeping clear text is considered insecure
                            and can be compromised at the OS level (for example through
                            memory dumps and using `ptrace`).
|=======================

Likewise, realms that store passwords hash them using cryptographically strong
and password-specific salt values. You can configure the algorithm for password
hashing by setting the <<static-cluster-setting,static>>
`xpack.security.authc.password_hashing.algorithm` setting to one of the
following:

[[password-hashing-algorithms]]
.Password hashing algorithms
|=======================
| Algorithm               | | | Description

| `bcrypt`                | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 1024 rounds. (default)
| `bcrypt4`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 16 rounds.
| `bcrypt5`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 32 rounds.
| `bcrypt6`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 64 rounds.
| `bcrypt7`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 128 rounds.
| `bcrypt8`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 256 rounds.
| `bcrypt9`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 512 rounds.
| `bcrypt10`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 1024 rounds.
| `bcrypt11`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 2048 rounds.
| `bcrypt12`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 4096 rounds.
| `bcrypt13`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 8192 rounds.
| `bcrypt14`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 16384 rounds.
| `pbkdf2`                | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_1000`           | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_10000`          | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_50000`          | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 50000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_100000`         | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 100000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_500000`         | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                              pseudorandom function using 500000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_1000000`        | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_stretch`        | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_1000`   | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_10000`  | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_50000`  | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 50000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_100000` | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 100000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_500000` | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 500000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_1000000`| | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
|=======================

Furthermore, {es} supports authentication via securely-generated high entropy tokens,
for instance <<security-api-create-api-key,API keys>>.
Analogous to passwords, only the tokens' hashes are stored. Since the tokens are guaranteed
to have sufficiently high entropy to resist offline attacks, secure salted hash functions are supported
in addition to the password-hashing algorithms mentioned above.

You can configure the algorithm for API key stored credential hashing
by setting the <<static-cluster-setting,static>>
`xpack.security.authc.api_key.hashing.algorithm` setting to one of the
following

[[secure-token-hashing-algorithms]]
.Secure token hashing algorithms
|=======================
| Algorithm               | | | Description

| `ssha256`               | | | Uses a salted `sha-256` algorithm. (default)
| `bcrypt`                | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 1024 rounds.
| `bcrypt4`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 16 rounds.
| `bcrypt5`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 32 rounds.
| `bcrypt6`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 64 rounds.
| `bcrypt7`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 128 rounds.
| `bcrypt8`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 256 rounds.
| `bcrypt9`               | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 512 rounds.
| `bcrypt10`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 1024 rounds.
| `bcrypt11`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 2048 rounds.
| `bcrypt12`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 4096 rounds.
| `bcrypt13`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 8192 rounds.
| `bcrypt14`              | | | Uses `bcrypt` algorithm with salt generated in 16384 rounds.
| `pbkdf2`                | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_1000`           | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_10000`          | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_50000`          | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 50000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_100000`         | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 100000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_500000`         | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                              pseudorandom function using 500000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_1000000`        | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000000 iterations.
| `pbkdf2_stretch`        | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_1000`   | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_10000`  | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 10000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_50000`  | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 50000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_100000` | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 100000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_500000` | | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 500000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
| `pbkdf2_stretch_1000000`| | | Uses `PBKDF2` key derivation function with `HMAC-SHA512` as a
                             pseudorandom function using 1000000 iterations, after hashing the
                             initial input with SHA512 first.
|=======================