return bytes(plaintext).decode('ascii', errors='ignore')

This is the . It is not a standard hash like MD5 or SHA256, nor is it fully encrypted. It is a proprietary, obfuscated encoding format unique to Huawei’s VRP (Versatile Routing Platform) and some ONT/ONU devices.

def decrypt(cipher): if cipher.startswith('%^%#') and cipher.endswith('%^%'): cipher = cipher[4:-3] res = [] for i, ch in enumerate(cipher.encode()): res.append(ch ^ KEY[i % len(KEY)]) return bytes(res).decode('ascii', errors='ignore')

hashcat -m 11500 hash.txt -a 3 ?l?l?l?l?l?l But note: decryption (reversing) is different from cracking. Hashcat attempts brute-force, whereas decryption uses the known key. | Problem | Likely Cause | Solution | |--------|--------------|----------| | Decrypted text looks like random symbols | Wrong algorithm version | Try VRP8 or ONT keystream | | Cipher string too short | You only copied part of it | Ensure full %^%# ... %^% is included | | Device shows "cipher 7" instead | That’s Cisco, not Huawei | Different algorithm entirely | | Decryption returns "admin" for any input | Fake tool or joke | Use trusted open-source code | Part 6: Security Implications – Why Huawei Still Uses a Reversible Cipher You might wonder: if the cipher is reversible, why use it at all?