SecValidator API: Password Strength Analyzer
Built a RESTful API for comprehensive password strength analysis and validation. The API evaluates passwords against multiple security criteria including entropy calculation, common pattern detection, breach database checking, and compliance with security policies, providing detailed strength scores and improvement suggestions.
Technologies Used
Project Overview
SecValidator Password Strength API is a security-focused service designed to analyze and validate password strength for authentication systems. The API performs multi-layered analysis including entropy calculation, pattern detection, dictionary attack simulation, and checks against known breached password databases. It helps developers implement robust password policies by providing detailed strength assessments and actionable feedback for users to create stronger passwords.
System Architecture
FastAPI Backend: Async Python framework providing high-throughput password analysis endpoints.
Entropy Calculator: Mathematical module computing Shannon entropy and effective bit strength of passwords.
Pattern Analyzer: Detection engine identifying common weak patterns and predictable sequences.
Breach Checker: Secure integration with breach databases using k-anonymity to protect queried passwords.
Policy Engine: Configurable rules engine for custom password policy enforcement.
Docker Deployment: Containerized service with secure configuration for production environments.
Key Features
Entropy-Based Strength Calculation: Calculates password entropy to measure unpredictability and resistance against brute-force attacks.
Common Pattern Detection: Identifies weak patterns such as keyboard walks, repeated characters, sequential numbers, and common substitutions.
Breach Database Integration: Checks passwords against known compromised password databases to prevent use of previously breached credentials.
Policy Compliance Validation: Validates passwords against configurable security policies including length, complexity, and character requirements.
Detailed Feedback Generation: Provides specific, user-friendly suggestions for improving password strength.
System Flow
Client submits password to API endpoint (transmitted securely, never stored).
Entropy Calculator computes mathematical strength score.
Pattern Analyzer scans for common weak patterns and sequences.
Breach Checker queries compromised password database using k-anonymity model.
Policy Engine validates against configured security requirements.
API returns comprehensive strength analysis with score and improvement suggestions.
Project Outcome
✓ Robust password validation API supporting secure authentication implementations