You upload the response file back into the SADP Tool. If the "Challenge" and "Response" match, the device allows you to create a new admin password immediately. Key Requirements for Success
Download the official tool from the Hikvision website. Install the software and run it as an Administrator. Step 2: Export the XML Request File
installed on a computer connected to the same local network as your Hikvision device. Select Your Device
The hikvision-keygen script on GitHub has received approximately 15 stars and 6 forks as of its last active development in 2020. It is important to note that this tool targets “exploit older Hikvision devices’ weak password reset key generation” — modern devices with updated firmware are generally not affected by this specific vulnerability. hikvision xml key generator
Using an incorrectly generated key can corrupt the internal flash memory of your camera, permanently bricking your expensive hardware.
You must not reboot the device after exporting the XML file. If the device restarts, the "Start Time" changes, and the generated key will be rejected as invalid.
Using third-party XML key generators can pose risks, including: You upload the response file back into the SADP Tool
: This is another severe authentication bypass vulnerability (CVSS Score of 10) that allows an attacker to bypass authorization checks and access sensitive information or escalate privileges. Threat actors actively use this flaw to extract configuration files (which contain user credentials) and snapshots from vulnerable endpoints like /System/configurationFile and /Security/users . Despite being patched in 2017, it has seen multiple resurgences, including in 2025 and 2026, underscoring the long-term risks of unpatched IoT devices.
The encryption password is critical—if lost, the configuration data cannot be recovered, and the device would need to be reconfigured manually from scratch.
Hikvision intentionally design their modern systems without physical default master passwords to prevent unauthorized hacking. Instead, they use a secure handshake protocol requiring the SADP (Search Active Devices Protocol) software. 1. Exporting the Request File Install the software and run it as an Administrator
The encryption password serves as the key that will be required when importing the configuration file to another device. Without this password, the configuration file cannot be restored or deployed.
Download and install the official Hikvision SADP tool from the authorized Hikvision website. Connect your computer to the same local network as the locked device. Step 2: Export the Device XML File
Locking yourself out of a Hikvision IP camera or Network Video Recorder (NVR) is a common challenge for security administrators. Hikvision utilizes an XML-based file exchange system to verify device ownership and securely reset passwords.
Understanding the Hikvision XML Key Generator: A Guide to Password Resets