crunch
Generate custom wordlists by pattern.
KaliParrotLinuxpassive
pkg: crunch
crunch creates wordlists from a character set and length/pattern spec — useful for targeted brute forcing.
Syntax
crunch {min} {max} [charset] [-t pattern]
Example
crunch 8 8 -t Pass@@@@ -o list.txt
Generates 8-char candidates matching "Pass" + 4 variable chars into list.txt.
Options & flags
What each switch does. Toggle them in the builder below to assemble a command.
Command builder
Tick options (and fill any values) to build a ready-to-copy command.
crunch
Usage examples
crunch 8 8 -t Pass@@@@ -o list.txt
Generate "Pass" + 4 lowercase chars.
crunch 4 6 0123456789 -o pins.txt
All 4-6 digit numeric strings.
Advantages
- Precise pattern control
- Handles huge keyspaces
- No network activity
Disadvantages
- Lists can be enormous on disk
- Naïve patterns waste time
- Generation only
Tags
#wordlist#generation
Official docs: crunch ↗
Related commands
Frequently asked questions
What is crunch used for?
crunch creates wordlists from a character set and length/pattern spec — useful for targeted brute forcing.
What is an example crunch command?
A common example is: crunch 8 8 -t Pass@@@@ -o list.txt — Generates 8-char candidates matching "Pass" + 4 variable chars into list.txt.
Is crunch part of Kali Linux?
Yes. crunch ships with Kali Linux (and Parrot OS). If missing, install it with: sudo apt install crunch.
What category of security tool is crunch?
crunch is a Password Attacks tool with a passive-risk profile when run against a live target.
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