How to Create Custom Wordlist in Android: The Ultimate Termux Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction
In the world of cybersecurity and penetration testing, the quality of your data determines your success. Many beginners rely on massive, generic files like RockYou.txt, but seasoned security researchers know that a targeted approach is superior. Learning how to create a custom wordlist in Android allows you to tailor your testing strategy to specific targets, significantly increasing your success rate.
Using the Termux environment, you can turn your smartphone into a powerful pocket hacking station. This guide will walk you through four essential Termux wordlist generators—Goblin, CUPP, Crunch, and CeWL—to help you compile accurate, effective password dictionaries.
Why Generic Lists Fail: Understanding Attack Vectors
Before diving into the commands, it is vital to understand why you need to generate specific lists. Different password auditing techniques require different data structures:
- Dictionary Attack: This method runs through a list of common words. A custom list is faster because it removes irrelevant words.
- Social Engineering: Attackers use personal data (birthdays, pet names) to guess credentials. Targeted wordlists are essential here.
- Hybrid Attack: Combines dictionary words with numbers/symbols (e.g., “Admin123”).
- Brute Force: Systematically tries every combination (e.g., AAAA to ZZZZ). This requires a tool that understands character patterns.
Prerequisites for Android Hacking Tools
To effectively create a custom wordlist in Android, you need to set up your environment. You do not need a rooted device for these tools.
- Android Device: Any modern smartphone.
- Termux App: Download the latest version from F-Droid (Google Play version is outdated).
- Dependencies: You will need
git,python, andrubypackages installed.
Ethical Disclaimer: These tools are intended for educational purposes and authorized security audits only. Using them to access networks or accounts without permission is illegal.
Tool 1: Goblin Word Generator (The Beginner’s Choice)
If you are new to Termux tools, Goblin is a fantastic starting point. It is a Python-based script designed to create customized dictionaries by mixing scales and common alphanumeric patterns.
Installation Commands:
apt update
apt upgrade -y
apt install git python python2 -y
git clone https://github.com/UndeadSec/GoblinWordGenerator.git
cd GoblinWordGenerator
chmod +x *How to Use:
Run the script to start building your list:
python3 goblin.pyGoblin is excellent for generating a base dictionary which you can later refine for specific security assessments.
Tool 2: CUPP (Best for Social Engineering)
When your goal is targeted password profiling, CUPP (Common User Passwords Profiler) is the industry standard. It relies on social engineering principles. If you know the target’s birthday, nickname, or partner’s name, CUPP uses an algorithm to combine these details into likely password variations.
Installation Commands:
pkg install git python -y
git clone https://github.com/Mebus/cupp.git
cd cuppHow to Generate the List:
Run the interactive mode:
python3 cupp.py -iThe tool will ask for details like “First Name,” “Surname,” and “Birth Date.” It then uses this data to create a custom wordlist highly optimized for that specific individual.
Tool 3: Crunch (Pattern-Based Generation)
Crunch is a versatile utility used for generating wordlists based on specific character sets and lengths. It is often used to test compliance with password policies (e.g., “passwords must be 8 characters”). It bridges the gap between a dictionary attack and a pure brute force attempt.
Installation Commands:
Crunch is available directly in the Termux repository:
pkg install crunch -yUsage Examples:
- Scenario: Generate all 4-digit PINs.Bash
crunch 4 4 0123456789 -o pins.txt - Scenario: Generate 6-character passwords using only ‘a’, ‘b’, and ‘1’.Bash
crunch 6 6 ab1 -o pass.txt
Tool 4: CeWL (Web Scraping for Keywords)
CeWL (Custom Word List generator) is unique because it scrapes websites. Organizations often use company jargon, project names, or locations in their passwords. CeWL spiders a URL and extracts these unique keywords to build a context-aware dictionary.
Installation Commands:
This tool requires Ruby.
pkg install ruby -y
gem install cewlHow to Use:
To scrape a website and save the keywords:
cewl https://www.example.com -w company_keys.txt- -d 2: (Optional) Tells the spider to crawl two links deep into the site.This technique is highly effective for infrastructure penetration testing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the difference between a dictionary attack and a brute force attack?
A: A dictionary attack uses a pre-existing list of words (a wordlist), whereas a brute force attack attempts every possible character combination blindly. Custom wordlists make dictionary attacks much faster and more effective.
Q: Is it legal to use these Termux wordlist generators?
A: Yes, installing and using these tools to generate lists is legal. However, using the resulting lists to attempt unauthorized access to accounts or systems is a crime.
Q: Can I combine wordlists from different tools?
A: Absolutely. In Linux/Termux, you can merge files using the cat command: cat cupp_list.txt cewl_list.txt > master_list.txt.
Q: Why is my custom wordlist file size so big?
A: If you define a large character set (e.g., lowercase + uppercase + numbers) and a long length (e.g., 8-12 chars), the mathematical combinations are in the billions. This is common in brute force list generation.
Conclusion
Mastering how to create a custom wordlist in Android is a fundamental skill for any aspiring ethical hacker. By moving away from generic databases and utilizing tools like CUPP for individuals, CeWL for organizations, and Crunch for patterns, you can perform significantly more efficient security audits directly from your mobile device.
Always remember to check the file size of your generated lists, as complex parameters in tools like Crunch can result in massive files that consume your Android storage.
