# KSO Chandigarh Authentication Fix Guide

## Problem
The admin authentication system has been failing due to a mismatch between the password hashing format stored in the database and the format expected by the authentication function. Specifically:

1. The database contains MD5 password hashes (32 character hexadecimal)
2. The authentication function is expecting modern bcrypt hashes (starting with $2y$)
3. The update script to convert MD5 to bcrypt hashes was not run

## Solution Overview
We've implemented several fixes to address this issue:

1. Created a new admin-password-fixer.php utility to easily:
   - Check current password hash formats
   - Fix all passwords to use bcrypt with the default password
   - Reset individual admin passwords
   - Verify password matching manually for debugging

2. Improved the authenticate_admin() function to:
   - Check specifically for active status
   - Better handle both MD5 and bcrypt hashes
   - Add comprehensive logging for debugging
   - Automatically upgrade MD5 hashes to bcrypt on successful login

3. Enhanced the login.php to:
   - Verify session initialization after authentication
   - Add proper logging of login attempts
   - Use more reliable redirection

4. Updated the admin/index.php redirection logic

## How to Fix the Authentication

### Step 1: Access the Password Fixer Utility
1. Navigate to: `/admin/admin-password-fixer.php?key=KSO_EMERGENCY_RESET_2024`
2. The security key prevents unauthorized access to this sensitive tool

### Step 2: Check the Current Status
1. Click the "Check Accounts" button to see the current state of admin passwords
2. The tool will report which accounts use MD5 vs bcrypt hashes

### Step 3: Fix the Password Hashes
1. Click the "Fix All Passwords" button to update all accounts to use secure bcrypt hashes
2. This will set all admin passwords to the default: `KSO@2024!`

### Step 4: Test the Login
1. Try logging in at `/admin/login.php` with:
   - Username: `haominthang` (or any admin username)
   - Password: `KSO@2024!`
2. If login succeeds, you will be redirected to the dashboard

### Step 5: Reset Individual Passwords (if needed)
If specific accounts still have issues:
1. Use the "Reset Single Admin Password" form in the utility
2. Enter the username and click "Reset Password"
3. Try logging in with that account using the default password

### Step 6: Secure the System
After successfully fixing the authentication:
1. Change the default admin passwords immediately
2. Delete the admin-password-fixer.php file

## Technical Details

### Default Password
The default password for all reset accounts is: `KSO@2024!`

### Password Hash Formats
- **MD5**: 32 character hexadecimal string (legacy, insecure)
- **Bcrypt**: Starts with $2y$ followed by parameters and hash (modern, secure)

### Authentication Flow
1. Find admin by username or KSO ID with active status
2. Check if the provided password matches using password_verify()
3. If using MD5, automatically upgrade to bcrypt for future logins
4. Create session with admin details
5. Redirect to dashboard

## Troubleshooting

If you're still having issues after using the fixer:

1. **Database Connection**: Check that your database settings in config/database.php are correct
2. **Table Structure**: Verify that the admins table has the required fields: id, username, password_hash, status
3. **Manual Password Check**: Use the "Verify Password Manually" function in the tool to debug specific accounts
4. **Error Logs**: Check your PHP error logs for detailed information
5. **Session Issues**: Clear browser cookies and try again in a private/incognito window

## Security Reminders

- The password fixer is a powerful tool - delete it after use
- Force all admins to change their passwords after fixing the system
- Regularly audit admin accounts and remove any that are no longer needed
- Consider implementing additional security measures like login attempt limits
