How to Reset Admin (root) Password on MySQL

Author: Jeremy Druin
Twitter: @webpwnized
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With access to the MySQL server, the MySQL root (administrator) password can be reset. The MySQL administrative user (aka root) stores its password hash in the mysql.user table (as does all MySQL users). By starting the MySQL server with skip grants option and using SQL queries to overwrite the MySQL root/admin password hash, the MySQL root/admin/administrator password can be changed to any value.

The MySQL instance demoed in the video is installed on Ubuntu Linux but the technique works on any Linux or Windows system because the technique interacts with the MySQL server itself. The Windows or Linux operating system is not important.

MySQL Server does not store passwords, but instead stores password hashes. When the user enters a password, the system hashes the password then compares the calculated password hash against the password hash on file in the MySQL user table. If the two password hashes match, the system authenticates the user. The root/admin user has more privileges than other users

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