KeePass Password Safe is a password management utility for Microsoft Windows released under the GNU General Public License. KeePass stores passwords, usernames, and URLs in an encrypted database unlocked by a password, key file, or a combination of the two. The database is encrypted with AES or Twofish encryption ciphers.

KeePass is maintained by Dominik Reichl. Development began in November 2003. The project is hosted on SourceForge and is currently rated "Production/Stable", and there are more than 28 translations available. There are currently several unofficial ports in development targeting Linux/Mac OS X, PocketPC, and J2ME.

Cryptography

"Add Entry" dialog in KeePass

According to the utility's author, KeePass was the first password management utility to use security-enhanced password edit controls, in this case one called CSecureEditEx. The author makes several claims to the security of the control and its resistance to password revealing utilities, however the author does not cite or make any references to any third-party testing of the control to corroborate the claims of its security. The source code is freely available and open to such testing.

Access to the database is restricted by either a master password or a key file. Both methods may be combined to create a "composite master key". If both methods are used, then both must be present to access the password database. KeePass version 2.x will introduce a third option: dependency upon the current Windows user.

KeePass encrypts the database with the AES or Twofish symmetric ciphers. AES is the default option, and Twofish is available but will be removed in version 2.x. Passwords are stored encrypted using the ARC4 cipher and a session key while in memory. The session key is derived from the user password, if used, and a salt value using the SHA-256 message digest algorithm.

Portability

KeePass does not utilize any functions that require the latest Windows operating system, such as theming on XP, or relying on the .NET Framework. KeePass supports XP themes, but doesn't require this operating system capability. However, KeePass 2.x - a complete rewrite of program - is based on the .NET Framework. The application does not need to be installed, though a traditional Windows installer is available. It's possible to download the binary ZIP package which contains only the main executable. PortableApps.com also distributes a pre-packaged version of 1.x, known as KeePass Portable.

The program doesn't create any new registry keys and it doesn't create any initialization files (ini) in your Windows directory. Deleting the KeePass directory (in case you downloaded the binary zip package) or using the uninstaller (in case you downloaded the installer package) leaves no trace of KeePass on your system. KeePass does not require any extra libraries on Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME, NT, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista.

A password database consists of only one file that can be transferred from one computer to another easily.

There are ports to other operating systems than Windows (for example KeePassX).

Features

Password management

It's possible to create, modify, and delete groups that can sort passwords. The groups can be arranged as a tree, so a group can have subgroups, those subgroups can have subgroups themselves, etc. KeePass supports time fields: creation time, last modification time, last access time and expiration time. It's possible to attach files to password entries (useful to store PGP signature files in KeePass for example).

Import and export

The password list can be exported to various formats like TXT, HTML, XML and CSV. The XML output can be easily used in other applications and re-imported into KeePass using a plugin. The CSV output is fully compatible with most other password safes like the commercial closed-source Password Keeper and the closed-source Password Agent, also the CSVs can be imported by spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice.org Calc. The HTML output uses Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to format the table, so you can easily change the layout. Many other file formats are supported through KeePass plugins.

KeePass uses the common CSV export format of various passwords safes like Password Keeper and Password Agent. Exports from these programs can be easily imported to your KeePass databases. KeePass can parse and import TXT outputs of CodeWalletPro, a commercial closed-source password safe. It can import TXT files created by Bruce Schneier's Password Safe v2. Many other file formats are supported through KeePass plugins.

Auto-type, global hot keys, drag-and-drop

Auto-type, global auto-type hot key combination and drag-n-drop support: KeePass can minimize itself and type the information of the current ly selected entry into dialogs, webforms, etc. Of course, the typing-sequence is 100% user-customizable, read the documentation file for more. KeePass features a global auto-type hot key. When KeePass is running in the background (with opened database) and you press the hot key, it looks up the correct entry and executes its auto-type sequence. All fields, title, username, password, URL and notes can be drag-n-dropped into other windows.

Intuitive and secure Windows clipboard handling: just double-click on any field of the password list to copy its value to the Windows clipboard. Timed clipboard clearing: KeePass can clear the clipboard automatically some time after you've copied one of your passwords into it. KeePass features a protection against clipboard monitors (other applications won't get notifications that the clipboard content has been changed) and it has a paste-once functionality: allow only one paste operation, after pasting the clipboard is cleared automatically by KeePass.

Built-in password generator

User Interface of the password generator

KeePass features a built-in password generator that generates random passwords. Random seeding can be done through user input (mouse movement and random keyboard input).

Plugins

KeePass has a plugin architecture. There are already some plugins available on the KeePass homepage (import/export from/to various other formats, plugin checking for updates, database backup plugin, etc.). Note that plugins may compromise the security of KeePass.