What is Credential Stuffing?
What is Credential Stuffing? Understanding the Threat and How to Protect Your Organization
Credential stuffing is a cyberattack method where attackers use automated tools to try large numbers of username and password combinations, often obtained from previous data breaches, to gain unauthorised access to user accounts across multiple websites and applications. The attack is successful when a user has reused the same login credentials (e.g., their email address and password) across multiple sites or services. Since many people use the same password for several accounts, attackers can exploit this habit by attempting to log in to a variety of platforms using the credentials stolen from a single breach.
The attackers typically use automated bots to perform these login attempts at high speed and scale. These bots are able to bypass traditional login security mechanisms like rate limiting and CAPTCHAs by mimicking human-like behaviour, making them difficult to detect.
How Does Credential Stuffing Work?
Credential stuffing attacks typically follow a series of steps:
- Acquiring Stolen Credentials: Cybercriminals first obtain login credentials through data breaches or leaks. These breaches can happen when a website or service is hacked, exposing large quantities of user data, including usernames and passwords. Many of these breaches can be found on dark web forums or hacker marketplaces, where attackers can purchase or access the data.
- Automated Login Attempts: Using specialised software or bots, attackers take the stolen usernames and passwords and attempt to log in to multiple online platforms, such as email providers, social media sites, and e-commerce platforms. The bots can run millions of login attempts in a very short period, trying each combination across various websites.
- Success and Exploitation: If a user has reused the same username and password across different sites, the bot will successfully gain access to their accounts on other platforms. Once inside, the attacker can steal personal data, make fraudulent purchases, or engage in other malicious activities. If the account is an administrative account, the attacker could gain access to even more critical information or systems.
- Monetising the Attack: Once the attacker gains access to valuable accounts, they can either exploit them directly (e.g., committing financial fraud or stealing intellectual property) or sell access to compromised accounts on underground forums.
The Dangers of Credential Stuffing
Credential stuffing attacks can have a range of devastating consequences for both individuals and businesses:
- Data Breaches and Privacy Violations: If attackers gain access to personal accounts, they can steal sensitive information such as emails, addresses, financial data, or private communications. This can result in identity theft, financial fraud, and privacy violations.
- Financial Loss: For businesses, a successful credential stuffing attack could lead to financial losses. Attackers may use compromised accounts to make unauthorised purchases, conduct fraudulent transactions, or steal funds from online wallets or payment systems.
- Reputational Damage: If a business falls victim to a credential stuffing attack and users’ accounts are compromised, it can cause significant damage to the organisation’s reputation. Customers may lose trust in the company’s ability to secure their data, which can lead to a decline in customer loyalty and business growth.
- Account Takeover and Fraud: Credential stuffing can lead to account takeover (ATO) fraud, where cybercriminals hijack a user’s account and use it for malicious purposes. For example, attackers may use an individual’s social media account to spread misinformation, damage their reputation, or access private information.
- Service Downtime: High-volume login attempts associated with credential stuffing attacks can overwhelm a website’s servers, leading to service disruptions or downtime. This affects the user experience and may result in customers being unable to access critical services.
How to Protect Against Credential Stuffing
Given the growing threat of credential stuffing attacks, organisations must take proactive steps to mitigate the risks and protect their users. Here are some effective strategies:
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): One of the most effective ways to defend against credential stuffing is by implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA requires users to provide additional verification beyond just a password, such as a fingerprint, a one-time code sent to their phone, or a security token. Even if attackers manage to steal a password, they would still need the second factor to access the account.
- Encourage Strong, Unique Passwords: Users should be encouraged to create strong, unique passwords for each of their accounts. This can be supported by organisations by implementing password strength requirements and educating users about the dangers of password reuse. Using password managers can help users securely store and generate unique passwords for every site they visit.
- Use Rate Limiting and CAPTCHA: Implementing rate limiting on login attempts can prevent bots from attempting thousands of login combinations in a short period. Additionally, using CAPTCHA challenges (such as “I am not a robot” tests) can make it more difficult for automated bots to carry out credential stuffing attacks.
- Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Organisations can implement tools that monitor for unusual or suspicious login attempts, such as multiple failed logins from a single IP address or login attempts from unusual geographic locations. These tools can alert administrators and trigger additional security measures when suspicious behaviour is detected.
- Leverage Account Lockout Mechanisms: Many organisations implement account lockout mechanisms after a certain number of failed login attempts. While this can help prevent credential stuffing, it’s important to balance it carefully to avoid denying access to legitimate users. Some systems may temporarily block a user after several failed attempts or require them to go through a secondary verification process.
- Educate Users About Security: Regularly educating users about the importance of strong passwords, the dangers of password reuse, and the benefits of MFA can help reduce the likelihood that their credentials will be used in a credential stuffing attack. Offering incentives for adopting good security practices can also encourage users to take proactive steps to protect their accounts.
Conclusion
Credential stuffing is a dangerous and growing cyber threat that takes advantage of password reuse and weak authentication practices. Attackers can exploit compromised login credentials from data breaches to gain unauthorised access to multiple accounts across different services. The consequences of a successful credential stuffing attack can be severe, ranging from data breaches to financial loss and reputational damage.
Fortunately, organisations can take several steps to defend against credential stuffing, including implementing multi-factor authentication, encouraging the use of strong and unique passwords, and monitoring for suspicious activity. By taking these measures, businesses can better protect themselves and their users from one of the most prevalent and damaging cyber threats in the modern digital landscape.
Talk to us about our Shield package for your cybersecurity needs. For more information about how we can help you secure your business call us on 0333 444 3455 or email us at sales@cnltd.co.uk.
