What is mimipenguin and how does it relate to extracting Linux passwords?

Mimipenguin is a tool that extracts plaintext passwords from a Linux system's memory, similar to how Mimikatz works on Windows for [Windows password hashes](/news/introduction-to-windows-password-hashes-ntlm-hash-and-net-ntlm-hash). It targets processes like SSH or GNOME keyring to retrieve credentials without needing to crack the hash. This technique bypasses hash cracking entirely, as explained in the [Linux Password Hashes article](/news/linux-password-hashes-technical-overview-of-encryption-methods-and-cracking-techniques).