What is Mobile Endpoint Security? Benefits & Challenges
April 4, 2025
Cybercriminals use stolen or weak credentials to bypass security measures, accessing sensitive information and compromising user accounts. Credential attacks are particularly dangerous because they exploit human behavior, such as password reuse and weak passwords, making them difficult to prevent with traditional security measures alone.
To protect against these threats, it’s crucial to understand the techniques attackers use—such as password spraying and credential stuffing—and to implement robust credential management practices. This article covers the risks associated with credential-based attacks and offers practical steps to defend against them.
Credential-based attacks involve cybercriminals using compromised or guessed credentials to gain unauthorized access to systems. Here are some common types of credential-based attacks:
Password Spraying: This method involves attackers trying a small set of commonly used passwords across a large number of accounts. Unlike brute-force attacks, which attempt numerous combinations on one account, password spraying minimizes the risk of detection by spreading out attempts across many accounts.
Credential Stuffing: In credential stuffing, attackers use automated tools to test large databases of stolen username and password pairs across multiple websites. This attack exploits the fact that many users reuse passwords across different accounts.
Credential Compromise: Credential compromise occurs when attackers obtain valid login credentials through various means—like phishing, data breaches, or social engineering—enabling unauthorized access.
These attacks can bypass many traditional security measures, making them particularly challenging to detect and prevent. Understanding the differences between these attack types is essential for building an effective defense.
Credential-based attacks pose numerous risks to both individuals and organizations, including:
Unauthorized Access: Credential attacks enable unauthorized access to sensitive accounts, potentially exposing confidential data and personal information.
Data Breaches: Once attackers access an account, they may move laterally through a network to exfiltrate data, increasing the scope and impact of a breach.
Financial Loss: Credential compromise can result in financial losses, either through direct theft or the cost of remediating a data breach.
Reputation Damage: Organizations that suffer credential-based attacks risk reputational harm, potentially losing the trust of customers and stakeholders.
Effective credential management, such as enforcing strong password policies and using multi-factor authentication, can reduce these risks.
Password spraying involves trying common passwords, such as “password123” or “qwerty,” across numerous accounts to find a match. Since this method spreads out attempts, it avoids locking out accounts, making it hard to detect.
Example: An attacker targets a company’s employee accounts with a list of simple passwords like “123456” or “welcome2024.” They attempt these passwords across multiple accounts, hoping one will work.
Defense: Encourage unique, complex passwords and enforce policies that block commonly used passwords. Regular password rotation policies can also reduce the likelihood of successful password spraying.
Credential stuffing uses automated tools to test large numbers of stolen login credentials across multiple websites. This attack method is particularly effective because many users reuse passwords.
Example: After a data breach, attackers use leaked usernames and passwords on popular websites, hoping users have reused their credentials.
Defense: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is highly effective in preventing credential stuffing. Even if attackers obtain valid credentials, they cannot access the account without the second authentication factor.
Brute force attacks systematically attempt every possible password combination until they find the correct one. While this approach is slower, attackers use powerful software to automate and expedite the process.
Example: An attacker uses a dictionary attack (a form of brute force) on a weakly protected account, attempting thousands of common words and phrases to guess the password.
Defense: Implement strong password requirements and limit login attempts to prevent brute force attacks.
Password spraying is a technique where attackers try commonly used passwords across many accounts to avoid detection. It works by spreading out attempts to bypass account lockouts, exploiting weak and reused passwords.
Credential stuffing uses known usernames and passwords, typically obtained from data breaches, to gain access to multiple sites. Brute force attacks, on the other hand, attempt to guess a password through repeated attempts, often without prior knowledge of the password.
Multi-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security, making it difficult for attackers to access accounts even if they have the correct password. It is one of the most effective defenses against credential-based attacks.
Reusing passwords across accounts increases vulnerability to credential stuffing attacks. If one account is compromised in a data breach, attackers can use those credentials to access other accounts that share the same password.
Businesses can improve credential management by enforcing unique, complex passwords, implementing MFA, and educating employees on the risks of credential compromise. Using credential vaults and automated password rotation can further enhance security.
Preventing credential-based attacks requires a combination of technology, policy, and user education. Here are some best practices for securing credentials:
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security, requiring users to verify their identity through a second factor (e.g., SMS code, fingerprint) in addition to their password. This significantly reduces the risk of successful credential attacks.
Unique, Complex Passwords: Encourage employees to create unique passwords for each account that are difficult to guess. Passwords should include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols and be at least 12 characters long.
Avoid Password Reuse: Reusing passwords across accounts increases the risk of credential stuffing attacks. Use a password manager to generate and store unique passwords for each account.
Regular Password Changes: Enforce policies requiring users to update passwords regularly. Automated password rotation for highly sensitive accounts can further protect against credential compromise.
User Education and Awareness: Educate employees on the risks of credential reuse, phishing, and other common threats. Training programs help employees recognize and respond to suspicious activity.
Advanced Threat Detection: Use threat detection tools that monitor for unusual login patterns or location-based access anomalies, which can indicate credential compromise.
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While credential stuffing and brute force attacks are both credential-based, they differ in technique and focus:
Credential Stuffing: Uses previously stolen usernames and passwords across multiple websites. It’s effective because many people reuse credentials.
Brute Force Attacks: Attempt to crack one account by guessing the password through repeated combinations, often using dictionary attacks or random character combinations.
Organizations should use MFA and rate limiting on login attempts to protect against both attack types.
As cyber attackers evolve, so do their methods. In addition to password spraying, credential stuffing, and brute force attacks, cybercriminals are increasingly using more sophisticated tactics to bypass traditional security measures. Understanding these advanced techniques and emerging trends is crucial for organizations aiming to stay ahead of credential-based threats.
Phishing has become one of the most common methods for obtaining login credentials. While phishing attacks are typically associated with malware delivery, attackers often use them specifically to harvest usernames and passwords, which can then be used in credential-based attacks like credential stuffing or account takeovers.
Example: An attacker sends an email that appears to be from a legitimate service, prompting the recipient to log in to their account due to a “security issue.” The link in the email leads to a fake login page where the victim unknowingly enters their credentials, which are immediately captured by the attacker.
Defense: User education and security awareness training are critical in defending against phishing attacks. Organizations should also implement email security solutions that detect and block phishing attempts and encourage users to verify suspicious emails before clicking links. Anti-phishing technologies, such as domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance (DMARC), can also help prevent these attacks.
Cyber attackers often exploit the fact that many users reuse passwords across multiple accounts. When a major data breach occurs, attackers quickly compile lists of stolen credentials and test them on other websites and services in the hope that some users have reused the same credentials.
Example: Following a breach at a popular e-commerce site, attackers use the leaked credentials to try logging in to online banking, email, and social media accounts. If users have reused their passwords, the attacker gains access to multiple accounts with minimal effort.
Defense: Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) and encouraging users to create unique passwords for every account can significantly reduce the success rate of these attacks. Password managers can help users securely store and manage multiple unique passwords.
With the increasing availability of automated tools, attackers can now execute credential-based attacks on a massive scale. Botnets—networks of infected devices controlled remotely by attackers—are often used to distribute credential stuffing and brute force attacks across numerous IP addresses, making it harder for security systems to detect and block the activity.
Example: An attacker uses a botnet to perform a credential stuffing attack across hundreds of online banking websites, testing stolen credentials on each site. By distributing the attack across multiple IP addresses, they avoid detection by rate-limiting and IP-blocking security measures.
Defense: Rate limiting and IP-based detection are essential for preventing automated attacks. Additionally, advanced threat detection technologies, such as behavior-based anomaly detection, can identify and block unusual login patterns associated with botnet attacks.
Social engineering techniques, like pretexting, are often used to obtain login credentials directly from users. In these attacks, the attacker pretends to be a trusted entity, such as an IT support representative or a senior executive, to trick the victim into revealing their password.
Example: An attacker calls an employee, pretending to be from the company’s IT department, and claims that there’s an issue with the employee’s email account. Under this pretext, the attacker asks for the employee’s password to “fix the problem.”
Defense: Organizations should train employees to verify any requests for their credentials, even if the request appears to come from within the company. Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security in case credentials are compromised through social engineering.
Account takeover (ATO) attacks are a specific type of credential-based attack where attackers gain unauthorized access to an individual’s or organization’s account and use it to perform malicious activities. Once inside, they may change passwords, make unauthorized transactions, or use the compromised account to launch further attacks, often without immediate detection.
Example: After compromising the credentials of an e-commerce account, an attacker uses the account to make unauthorized purchases or change the shipping address for previously ordered items. In some cases, attackers also use compromised accounts to spread malware or phishing links to other contacts.
Defense: In addition to MFA, continuous monitoring of account activity for unusual behavior can help detect and respond to ATO attacks. Behavioral analytics can flag suspicious activities, such as access from unusual locations or drastic changes in account settings, and prompt a secondary authentication challenge.
SIM swapping is an emerging attack vector used to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) that relies on SMS codes. In a SIM swap attack, the attacker convinces a mobile carrier to transfer the victim’s phone number to a SIM card under the attacker’s control. This allows the attacker to intercept SMS-based 2FA codes and gain access to accounts.
Example: An attacker contacts a mobile carrier, posing as the victim, and uses social engineering to request a new SIM card with the victim’s phone number. Once the SIM swap is complete, the attacker can receive SMS-based 2FA codes sent to the victim’s accounts, effectively bypassing 2FA.
Defense: Avoid using SMS-based authentication when possible; instead, use app-based authenticators or physical security keys. Mobile carriers should be alerted to the risk of SIM swapping and encouraged to adopt stronger identity verification measures for SIM card changes.
For enterprises, credential management goes beyond individual user practices. It requires systematic controls and policies to secure credentials organization-wide.
Credential Vaults: Store sensitive credentials in secure vaults accessible only to authorized users. This prevents unauthorized access and provides visibility into credential usage.
Automated Credential Rotation: Implement automated systems to regularly rotate credentials for sensitive accounts, especially those with access to critical data.
Access Control and Monitoring: Restrict access to credentials based on job roles, and monitor access logs to detect unusual activity.
Credential Management Training: Provide regular training to employees on secure credential handling and the risks associated with weak credential management.
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