Should You Escape or Cleanse Passwords Before Hashing in PHP?

Hashing User Passwords Without Escaping or Cleansing

Introduction:

Many PHP developers mistakenly assume that user-provided passwords should be escaped or cleansed before hashing for security purposes. This question explores the reasons why this practice is unnecessary and potentially detrimental.

Answer:

No need for escaping or cleansing

Never escape or apply any cleansing mechanisms to passwords before hashing them using PHP's password_hash() function. This is because:

• Additional Security Not Required: Hashed passwords are virtually immune to SQL injection attacks because the string is converted to a hash before being stored in the database.
• Added Complexity: Implementing additional cleansing measures introduces unnecessary code and potential security vulnerabilities.

Hashing Protects Against All Input

Even if a user enters an entire SQL query as their password, hashing will make it safe by converting it into an unrecognizable hash. No special cleansing is necessary to prevent malicious code from being stored.

Impact of Sanitizing Methods

Different sanitizing methods can significantly alter the password, leading to verification issues when comparing it with the stored hashed password. It is essential to avoid these methods before hashing, as they do not provide any additional security.

Conclusion:

Escaping or cleansing user passwords before hashing is unnecessary and potentially harmful. PHP's password_hash() function effectively secures passwords without the need for any additional modifications.

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