John the Ripper

v1.9.0-jumbo-1Openwall

Reads a hash file, guesses passwords with wordlists and rules, and prints cracked entries. The range's john reads authored hash fixtures and cracks entries whose passwords are in the seeded wordlist.

Category: Credential attack & password auditing
Package: john
Runs on: Linux · Windows
Commands: john, unshadow, zip2john

Cracks entries only when the authored wordlist genuinely contains the plaintext. No GPU is used.

Install it

The scripts below install the real Openwall package on your own machine — read them first, and run them somewhere you are allowed to change. Inside the range, one press puts the simulated package on your next machine.

Linux installer (shell script)

install-johntheripper.sh

Windows installer (PowerShell)

Install-johntheripper.ps1

On a range machine

Add it to your kit and every machine you launch comes with it.

On Linux

Debian, Ubuntu, Kali (apt)

Refresh the package lists
```
sudo apt update
```
Install John the Ripper
```
sudo apt install -y john
```

RHEL, Fedora (dnf)

Install John the Ripper
```
sudo dnf install -y john
```
Package names drift between distributions; search first if this one misses.

Arch (pacman)

Install John the Ripper
```
sudo pacman -S --noconfirm john
```

Alpine (apk)

Install John the Ripper
```
sudo apk add john
```
Package names drift between distributions; search first if this one misses.

Check it worked

Confirm it landed on PATH
```
which john
```
Check the version
```
john --version
```
The range reports 1.9.0-jumbo-1.

Remove it

Take it off again
```
sudo apt remove --purge john
```

On Windows

Windows Package Manager (winget)

Search the catalog
```
winget search john
```
Install John the Ripper
```
winget install --id john -e
```
Package names drift between distributions; search first if this one misses.

Chocolatey (choco)

Install John the Ripper
```
choco install john -y
```
Run the shell as administrator.

Check it worked

Confirm it resolves
```
where john
```
Check the version
```
john --version
```
The range reports 1.9.0-jumbo-1.

Remove it

Take it off again
```
winget uninstall --id john
```

Inside the range

Tick it on the launch screen
Under John the Ripper's category on the advanced tool shelf. A lab that depends on it locks the toggle on and says why.
Or install it from a range terminal
```
sudo apt install -y john
```
The simulated package manager seeds the same binaries, config and receipt the shelf toggle does.
Everything here is simulated
No software is downloaded and nothing executes — the range answers from authored fixtures.

Labs that use John the Ripper

No lab locks this one on yet — tick it on the launch screen and take it into any scenario.