Excel spreadsheet password cracking using VBA

Question

I tried writing a vba password cracker code similar to the code I used to crack Excel sheet's password But I am not sure if I am doing correctly or not - when i tried this code it prompted me for password but no password was entered to the text input box.

Please suggest what I am doing wrong.

Thanks

Sub testmacro()
Dim password
Dim a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l
SendKeys "^r"
SendKeys "{PGUP}"

For a = 65 To 66
    For b = 65 To 66
        For c = 65 To 66
            For d = 65 To 66
                For e = 65 To 66
                    For f = 65 To 66
                        For g = 65 To 66
                            For h = 65 To 66
                                For i = 65 To 66
                                    For j = 0 To 255
                                        password = Chr(a) & Chr(b) & Chr(c) & Chr(d) & Chr(e) & Chr(f) & Chr(g) & Chr(h) & Chr(i) & Chr(j)
                                        SendKeys "{Enter}", True
                                        MsgBox password
                                        SendKeys password, True
                                        SendKeys "{Enter}", True

                                        On Error GoTo 200
                                        MsgBox password
                                        GoTo 300
200                                         password = ""

                                    Next
                                Next
                            Next
                        Next
                    Next
                Next
            Next
        Next
    Next
Next
300 MsgBox "exited"
End Sub

Answer 1

The reason your code is not executing properly is because you are attempting to execute a macro on a password protected execel file, which is not permitted. This is due to the fact that macros will not execute on an excel workbook until the password is entered - thus the prompt for a password before you can execute your macro code.

This SO article explains this as well, with greater detail: Excel VBA - Automatically Input Password

EDIT

For 2003

---

If you are trying to access the workbook, not the worksheet, there are a variety of ways in versions 2003 and earlier. After a quick perusual, this blogspot Code Samples entry appears to have a working version for unprotecting a 2003 workbook.

Also, on a related note, if you are stepping back even further and trying to unlock a VBA project, this SO article appears to adequately address the issue.

For 2007

---

If you are simply trying to "brute force" unprotect a client's workbook, a gentleman named Jason has outlined such a process in his blog.

---

Answer 2

I successfully executed this script in Excel-2013 on a password protected workbook created in Excel 2003.

Followed the following steps:

Developer --> Record Macro (give a name, then do some clicks)

Macros --> take the macro you created for edit.

Replace the Macro with the whole function below:

Sub PasswordBreaker()
    'Breaks worksheet password protection.
    Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
    Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
    Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
    Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
    On Error Resume Next
    For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
    For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
    For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
    For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
    ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
        Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
        Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
    If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
        MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
            Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _
            Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
         Exit Sub
    End If
    Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
    Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub

Answer 3

It looks like you're trying to unlock a workbook with a password to open it?

You absolutely should not be using Sendkeys for that. You should only ever use sendkeys as a last resort.

To avoid conflicts, put your code in another workbook and instead of the sendkeys use:

Workbooks.Open Filename:="C:\passtest.xls", Password:=password

If the workbook is already open and the workbook is protected or a sheet or chart use:

[object].Unprotect password

Wherew [object] is a reference to what you are trying to unprotect.

If you are trying to unlock the vba code, follow the comment by JimmyPena

Here's a reference for someone using similar code to yours for unlocking the active sheet.