---
title: MD5 Password Storage Scheme (LEGACY)
description: "LEGACY since 7.0.0: is insecure. Alternative: A strong hash-based scheme such as one of the schemes enabled by default."
component: pingds
version: 8.1
page_id: pingds:configref:objects-md5-password-storage-scheme
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/configref/objects-md5-password-storage-scheme.html
section_ids:
  parent: Parent
  md5_password_storage_scheme_properties: MD5 Password Storage Scheme properties
  basic_properties: Basic properties
  enabled: enabled
  advanced_properties: Advanced properties
  java-class: java-class
---

# MD5 Password Storage Scheme (LEGACY)

|   |                                                                                                                         |
| - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | LEGACY since 7.0.0: is insecure. Alternative: A strong hash-based scheme such as one of the schemes enabled by default. |

The MD5 Password Storage Scheme provides a mechanism for encoding user passwords using an unsalted form of the MD5 message digest algorithm. Because the implementation does not use any kind of salting mechanism, a given password always has the same encoded form.

This scheme contains only an implementation for the user password syntax, with a storage scheme name of "MD5". Although the MD5 digest algorithm is relatively secure, recent cryptanalysis work has identified mechanisms for generating MD5 collisions. This does not impact the security of this algorithm as it is used in PingDS, but it is recommended that the MD5 password storage scheme only be used if client applications require it for compatibility purposes, and that a stronger digest like SSHA or SSHA256 be used for environments in which MD5 support is not required.

## Parent

The MD5 Password Storage Scheme object inherits from [Password Storage Scheme](objects-password-storage-scheme.html).

## MD5 Password Storage Scheme properties

You can use configuration expressions to set property values at startup time. For details, see [Property value substitution](expressions.html).

| Basic Properties    | Advanced Properties       |
| ------------------- | ------------------------- |
| [enabled](#enabled) | [java-class](#java-class) |

### Basic properties

Use the `--advanced` option to access advanced properties.

### enabled

|                         |                                                                   |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| *Synopsis*              | Indicates whether the Password Storage Scheme is enabled for use. |
| *Default value*         | None                                                              |
| *Allowed values*        | truefalse                                                         |
| *Multi-valued*          | No                                                                |
| *Required*              | Yes                                                               |
| *Admin action required* | None                                                              |
| *Advanced*              | No                                                                |
| *Read-only*             | No                                                                |

## Advanced properties

Use the `--advanced` option to access advanced properties.

### java-class

|                         |                                                                                                                    |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| *Synopsis*              | Specifies the fully-qualified name of the Java class that provides the MD5 Password Storage Scheme implementation. |
| *Default value*         | org.opends.server.extensions.MD5PasswordStorageScheme                                                              |
| *Allowed values*        | A Java class that extends or implements:- org.opends.server.api.PasswordStorageScheme                              |
| *Multi-valued*          | No                                                                                                                 |
| *Required*              | Yes                                                                                                                |
| *Admin action required* | None                                                                                                               |
| *Advanced*              | Yes                                                                                                                |
| *Read-only*             | No                                                                                                                 |