Unlocking .xlsm Spreadsheets: A Comical Guide to Hacking Your Own Files
Unlocking an .xlsm spreadsheet is like opening an overly secure cookie jar. With some Python magic and the right tools, you can bypass protections and get to the sweet data inside. Remember, it involves cracking 100,000 SHA-512 hashes, so patience is key.
Hot Take:
Who knew unzipping a spreadsheet could be more intense than opening a bag of mixed nuts? Turns out, protecting an .xlsm file is like trying to guard the last slice of pizza at a party—everyone’s got their eyes on it, but only the truly savvy can crack the code!
Key Points:
- .xlsm spreadsheets are OOXML files, essentially ZIP files containing XML files.
- Sheet protection is managed by the XML element sheetProtection.
- The password is hashed 100,000 times with SHA-512 and includes a salt value.
- Extracted hashes can be cracked slowly using hashcat (hash mode 25300).
- Even with a high-end GPU, cracking these hashes can be time-consuming.
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