How to Leak Chrome Stored Passwords – When You Don’t Know the PC Account Password

This is Part 3 of the Chrome Password Hacking Series.

In the previous article, we looked at how stored passwords can be leaked
when the attacker knows the PC account password.

In this post, we will look at a different scenario —
even without knowing the PC account password,
Chrome passwords can still be extracted if the computer is left unlocked for a moment.

This is not remote hacking.
It’s another form of local attack, carried out by someone with brief physical access to your machine.

Another Vulnerability in Chrome’s Auto-Fill

Chrome’s password autofill makes everyday browsing easier.
However, its internal structure creates an additional vulnerability:
if the screen is unlocked, the stored password values already exist in plain text inside the browser.

This means that someone who does not know the PC account password
can still retrieve passwords stored in Chrome
simply by accessing the machine while you are away for a moment.

Before looking at the methods, let’s consider a situation that can easily occur in daily use.

The Risk of Local Attacks

Most users intend to lock their screens when leaving their desks.
But brief moments —
a phone call, a quick step out for coffee, or being busy with work —
can easily lead to forgetting to lock the screen.

Windows auto-lock is typically set to 5 or 10 minutes,
which leaves a rather generous window of opportunity.

Local attacks take advantage of precisely such moments.
If the PC screen is on and the browser is open,
an attacker can retrieve saved passwords without any additional credentials.

How Auto-Fill Passwords Are Stored

Password fields filled via Chrome’s autofill show masked characters (●●●●),
but inside the browser, the password is already stored in plain text.

The HTML <input type="password"> element only hides the password visually.
The actual password is stored in the element’s value attribute,
which can be accessed through developer tools or scripts.

This structure is what makes the following attacks possible.

Method 1: Using Developer Tools

Using Developer Tools allows you to directly read the autofilled password.
You don’t need JavaScript knowledge to follow the steps.

1. Open a login page where the password has been autofilled.

2. Confirm that the password field contains masked characters (●●●●).

3. Right-click the password input field.

4. Select Inspect.

5. Developer Tools will open and highlight the relevant HTML element.

6. Find the <input type="password" ...> element.

7. Note the value of its id or name attribute.

8. Open the Console tab.

9. Enter the following command (change 'password' to the actual ID):

   console.log(document.getElementById('password').value);
   

10. Press Enter, and the password will appear in plain text.

Once familiar with the steps,
the entire process takes less than 30 seconds.

Method 2: Using Firefox

Firefox’s built-in Import Data from Another Browser feature
can copy Chrome’s saved passwords without asking for the PC account password.
This process is simple and requires almost no technical knowledge.

1. Download and install Firefox.

2. On first launch, the Import Data from Another Browser window appears.

3. Select Chrome.

4. Check the Passwords item.

5. Click Next to import the Chrome passwords.

6. Open Passwords (about:logins) from the Firefox menu.

7. All usernames and passwords will appear in plain text.

8. Select Export Passwords to save everything as a CSV file.

Firefox does not request the PC account password to view or export these passwords.
Additionally, Chrome’s saved passwords can be transferred with a few clicks,
making this an extremely effective method when the target PC is left unlocked.

Structural Risks Created by Convenience Features

Both methods work without any hacking tools or advanced skills.
They rely entirely on standard browser features.

The only requirement is that the PC screen is unlocked.
In shared PC environments, office settings, or family computers,
this kind of exposure can happen much more easily than people expect.

Chrome’s autofill feature is convenient,
but it should not be mistaken for a secure password storage mechanism.

In the next article, we’ll look at how to avoid these risks
and manage passwords safely using a dedicated password manager such as KeePassXC.

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