What is Credential Stuffing?
Credential stuffing is a cyber attack technique that exploits compromised login credentials obtained from data breaches. Attackers leverage lists of usernames and passwords, often harvested from previous breaches of other online services, and attempt to use them to gain unauthorised access to user accounts on your systems.
How does Credential Stuffing work?
Credential stuffing attacks are automated, often using bots to perform the following steps:
- Obtaining breached credentials: Attackers acquire lists of usernames and passwords leaked from data breaches on other websites or services.
- Large-scale login attempts: These stolen credentials are then used in automated scripts to attempt logins on a target system. Attackers rely on a statistical chance that some users reuse the same login credentials across multiple platforms.
- Exploiting weak security practices: If a user employs the same username and password combination on your system as on a compromised website, the attacker gains unauthorised access to their account.
The benefits of mitigating credential stuffing (for the organisation):
- Enhanced security posture: By implementing measures to prevent credential stuffing, organisations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised account access and potential data breaches.
- Improved user account protection: Stronger authentication methods and educating users about password hygiene help safeguard user accounts from compromise.
- Reduced risk of business disruption: Successful credential stuffing attacks can disrupt business operations by compromising user accounts and potentially leading to data leaks or malware infections.
- Maintaining user trust: Robust defences against credential stuffing attacks demonstrate a commitment to user data security and build trust with your customer base.
Use cases for mitigating credential stuffing with Microsoft:
- Enforcing strong passwords: Microsoft Azure Active Directory and other Microsoft 365 tools can be used to enforce strong password policies, making it harder for attackers to crack passwords used in stuffing attempts.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing MFA adds an extra layer of security beyond passwords, requiring users to provide a secondary verification factor during login attempts.
- User education: Educating users about password hygiene and the risks of credential reuse is crucial in preventing them from falling victim to stuffing attacks.
By implementing measures to mitigate credential stuffing, organisations can significantly enhance their security posture and protect user accounts from unauthorised access.
