The Top 10 Credential-Based Attacks: What You Need to Know

TL;DR:

• Authentication is crucial to verify user identity and prevent unauthorized access.
• Failures to properly authenticate users can lead to security breaches and data loss.
• Attackers exploit failures through brute force attacks, session hijacking, and social media squatting.
• Common failures include a lack of anti-automation controls, MFA, security training, and password policies.
• Preventing failures involves implementing MFA, strong password policies, general error messaging, limiting failed login attempts, using password managers, and providing security training.

Credential-based attacks are among the most common methods cybercriminals use to gain unauthorized access to systems. Below are the top types of credential-based attacks and how they typically work:

1. Phishing Attacks:

• What It Is: Phishing attacks have evolved into sophisticated and multifaceted threats that exploit human psychology and technological vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals employ a range of tactics to manipulate victims into divulging sensitive information, particularly authentication credentials. These attacks often leverage social engineering techniques to create a false sense of urgency or authority.
• How It Works: Phishing attacks employing fraudulent login pages have become increasingly sophisticated and prevalent in recent years. Cybercriminals meticulously craft these deceptive interfaces to closely resemble authentic websites, often replicating the visual design, branding elements, and user experience of legitimate platforms with remarkable accuracy. The attackers typically disseminate these counterfeit login portals through various vectors, including spoofed emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements.

Upon encountering these fraudulent pages, unsuspecting users are psychologically manipulated through social engineering tactics to believe they are interacting with a genuine site. The attackers may create a false sense of urgency or importance to compel victims to enter their credentials without scrutiny. Once the user submits their login information, the malicious actors instantly capture and exfiltrate the data, often in real-time.

The stolen credentials are then leveraged for a multitude of nefarious purposes, such as unauthorized access to sensitive accounts, identity theft, financial fraud, or as a springboard for further attacks within an organization's network. In more advanced scenarios, the attackers may employ keyloggers or form-grabbing malware to capture additional information beyond just the login credentials.

• Example: A spoofed email pretending to be from a bank, directing the user to a fake login portal.

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2. Credential Stuffing

• What It Is: Automated use of stolen username/password combinations from previous breaches.
• How It Works: Cybercriminals leverage automated tools to systematically test compromised username and password combinations across a wide array of digital platforms, exploiting the common user behavior of password reuse.

This attack vector capitalizes on the human tendency to employ identical or slightly modified credentials across multiple accounts, a practice that significantly amplifies the potential impact of a single data breach. Attackers typically obtain large datasets of compromised credentials from dark web marketplaces or through their own malicious activities, then deploy botnets or specialized software to attempt these login combinations at scale.
The efficacy of credential stuffing is further enhanced by the sheer volume of attempts, often numbering in the millions, which can overwhelm traditional security measures. Sophisticated attackers may employ techniques such as IP rotation, browser fingerprint spoofing, and request manipulation to evade detection and circumvent rate-limiting mechanisms.

• Example: Using credentials from a breached e-commerce site to log into a user’s email account.

3. Brute-Force Attacks

• What It Is: Repeatedly trying different password combinations until the correct one is found.
• How It Works: Password cracking tools have evolved into sophisticated software suites that leverage various techniques to compromise authentication systems systematically. These tools employ algorithms that automate the process of generating and testing potential passwords at high speeds, significantly reducing the time and effort required for manual attempts.

Dictionary-based attacks utilize extensive word lists, often containing millions of entries, including common phrases, proper nouns, and known password patterns. These lists are frequently updated with leaked password databases, making them increasingly effective against users who rely on common or easily guessable passwords.
Brute-force attacks, on the other hand, methodically generate and test all possible character combinations within specified parameters. Modern tools can be configured to use custom character sets and password length ranges and even incorporate rules that mimic human password creation tendencies, such as substituting numbers for letters or appending special characters.
Advanced password-cracking tools also employ hybrid approaches, combining dictionary and brute-force methods. They may use techniques like word mangling, where dictionary words are modified with common substitutions, capitalizations, or additions to create more complex password candidates.
Hardware acceleration, utilizing powerful GPUs or specialized ASIC devices, has dramatically increased the speed at which these tools can process potential passwords, allowing for billions of attempts per second in some cases.

• Example: An attacker uses a tool to guess a weak password like "password123."

4. Password Spraying

• What It Is: Trying a small set of common passwords across many accounts to avoid lockouts.
• How It Works: This method, referred to as credential stuffing, is becoming more common in cybersecurity. Cybercriminals take advantage of people's tendency to reuse passwords on different platforms, using this weakness to access multiple accounts at once. Armed with automated tools, these attackers can quickly check compromised username and password pairs across a variety of websites and services.

This method is effective because it bypasses conventional security measures meant to detect and stop brute-force attacks on single accounts. In contrast to brute-force attacks that create numerous failed login attempts on one account, credential stuffing spreads the attack over several accounts and platforms, complicating the process for security systems to recognize and flag questionable activities.
Furthermore, this method capitalizes on the vast troves of leaked credentials available on the dark web, resulting from various data breaches. Cybercriminals can easily obtain these datasets and employ them in large-scale credential-stuffing campaigns, significantly increasing their chances of success without raising immediate alarms.

• Example: Testing “12345678” on multiple employee accounts in an organization.

5. Keylogging

• What It Is: Malware records users’ keystrokes to capture credentials.
• How It Works: Keyloggers, a malicious software designed to record keyboard inputs covertly, are typically deployed through sophisticated attack vectors that exploit user vulnerabilities and system weaknesses. These nefarious tools are often distributed via two primary methods: malicious downloads and phishing attacks, both of which leverage social engineering tactics and technical exploits.
• Example: A keylogger records the username and password as a user logs into their online banking account.

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6. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

• What It Is: Attackers intercept communication between users and services to steal credentials.
• How It Works: malicious actors often take advantage of insecure connections, such as those utilizing the HTTP protocol, to intercept and capture sensitive login information as it is transmitted over the internet. By exploiting these vulnerabilities, they can easily access credentials like usernames and passwords, which may be sent in clear text, exposing users to potential breaches and unauthorized access to their accounts.
• Example: Logging into a public Wi-Fi network that has been compromised to capture login credentials.

7. Social Engineering

• What It Is: Manipulating people into revealing credentials through deception or impersonation.
• How It Works: Social engineering exploits human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. At its core, social engineering leverages cognitive biases and emotional triggers to bypass traditional security measures. Attackers employ a range of techniques, including phishing, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating, each designed to exploit specific human tendencies and weaknesses. For instance, phishing attacks often create a sense of urgency or fear to prompt hasty actions, while pretexting involves creating an elaborate scenario to obtain sensitive information under false pretenses.

From a psychological perspective, social engineers exploit principles such as authority, scarcity, and social proof to enhance the credibility of their schemes. They may impersonate figures of authority, create artificial time constraints, or leverage individuals' tendency to follow others' actions.

• Example: An attacker calls an employee pretending to be IT support, requesting login credentials.

8. Session Hijacking

• What It Is: Taking over a user’s session to gain access without needing credentials directly.
• How It Works: Attackers steal session cookies, often using malware or MitM techniques.
• Example: An attacker accesses a user’s banking session by hijacking a cookie stored on an unencrypted device.

9. Database Exploits

• What It Is: Extracting credentials stored in poorly secured or breached databases.
• How It Works: SQL injection is a technique for targeting relational databases. It involves manipulating input fields or parameters to inject malicious SQL code that alters the intended behaviour of database queries.

Once a SQL injection vulnerability is identified, the attacker uses different approaches to steal users' credentials.
One common approach involves using UNION-based SQL injection, where the attacker appends a malicious query to the original, legitimate query. For example:

sql SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = 1 UNION SELECT username, password FROM user_credentials

This technique allows the attacker to retrieve sensitive information from other tables within the database, potentially exposing plaintext or hashed passwords.
Attackers may also exploit specific database management system (DBMS) vulnerabilities, such as those found in Oracle, MySQL, or Microsoft SQL Server. These can include buffer overflows, privilege escalation flaws, or misconfigurations allowing unauthorized access to system tables or administrative functions.

• Example: Using SQL injection to extract stored passwords from a website’s database.

10. Credential Harvesting Through Malware

• What It Is: Using malicious software to steal stored or entered credentials directly.
• How It Works: Sophisticated malware variants, particularly Trojans and spyware, employ advanced techniques to compromise system security and harvest sensitive user data. These malicious programs utilize complex algorithms to systematically scan infected systems, targeting stored login credentials across various applications and platforms. The scanning process often involves parsing encrypted files, registry entries, and browser databases where credentials are commonly stored.

Some sophisticated variants employ memory scraping techniques to extract credentials directly from a system's RAM, bypassing traditional file-based security measures. They may also exploit vulnerabilities in password management software or leverage man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept network traffic containing login information.
Cybercriminals often design these malware strains with modular architectures, allowing for rapid adaptation to new security measures and the incorporation of additional functionality. This adaptability makes them particularly challenging for cybersecurity professionals to detect and mitigate.
The harvested credentials are typically exfiltrated to command and control servers using encrypted channels to evade detection. Attackers may then leverage these stolen credentials for various malicious purposes, including identity theft, financial fraud, or as a stepping stone for further network penetration in targeted attacks against organizations.

• Example: A banking Trojan extracts credentials stored in a browser’s saved passwords database.

Mitigation Strategies

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Multi-factor authentication (MFA) significantly enhances security by implementing an additional layer of protection beyond traditional credential-based systems. This approach combines multiple independent authentication methods, typically categorized as something you know (e.g., password), something you have (e.g., hardware token), and something you are (e.g., biometric data).

The implementation of MFA can vary in complexity and security level. Basic two-factor authentication (2FA) might involve a password coupled with a time-based one-time password (TOTP) generated by a mobile app. More sophisticated systems may incorporate hardware security keys, smart cards, or advanced biometric factors such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning.
For enterprises, MFA can be integrated with single sign-on (SSO) solutions and identity providers to create a seamless yet highly secure authentication process across multiple applications and services. This integration bolsters security and enhances user experience by reducing password fatigue.
2. Strong Password Policies: Implementing robust password policies is crucial for maintaining a secure digital environment. Organizations should mandate the use of complex, unique passwords for all user accounts across their systems and applications. These passwords should incorporate a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, with a minimum length of 12-16 characters, to enhance resilience against brute-force attacks.

Implementing password rotation schedules will further bolster security. Encourage users to update their passwords at regular intervals, typically every 60-90 days, depending on the sensitivity of the data being protected. However, it's important to balance security and usability to prevent password fatigue.
Use password strength meters and real-time feedback mechanisms during password creation to guide users in selecting strong passwords. Additionally, implement password history policies to prevent the reuse of previously employed passwords, typically restricting reuse for the last 8-10 password iterations.
3. Monitoring and Alerts: Implementing robust systems to detect anomalous login attempts and account behaviour is crucial for maintaining the security and integrity of any digital platform. These systems typically employ a multi-faceted approach, leveraging advanced algorithms, machine learning techniques, and real-time monitoring to identify potential threats.
One key component of such systems is analyzing login patterns. This involves tracking metrics such as login frequency, time of day, geographic location, and device information. By establishing a baseline of normal user behaviour, the system can flag deviations that may indicate unauthorized access attempts. For instance, multiple failed login attempts from unfamiliar IP addresses or logins from geographically disparate locations would trigger alerts within a short time frame.
4. Account Lockouts: Implementing robust login attempt restrictions is a critical security measure for protecting systems against brute-force attacks. This approach involves setting a threshold for consecutive failed login attempts within a specified time frame, after which the system takes defensive action.

A common implementation involves temporarily locking the account after a predetermined number of failed attempts, typically between 3 and 10. Depending on the system's sensitivity, the lockout duration can range from a few minutes to several hours. More sophisticated systems may employ an exponential backoff strategy, where the lockout duration increases with each subsequent set of failed attempts.
In addition to account lockouts, consider implementing CAPTCHA challenges after a certain number of failed attempts. This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring human interaction, which can significantly impede automated attack scripts.
IP-based restrictions can also be effective. Tracking login attempts by IP address allows you to identify and block suspicious activity from specific sources. However, be cautious with this approach, as it may inadvertently affect legitimate users behind shared IP addresses or VPNs.
When implementing login attempt limits, ensure that your system can differentiate between actual failed login attempts and other errors, such as network timeouts or server issues. This prevents legitimate users from being locked out due to technical problems.
Lastly, consider implementing a secure account recovery process. This ensures that legitimate users who are locked out can regain access to their accounts without compromising the overall security of the system.

5. Secure Connections: HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) and VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are critical components of a robust cybersecurity strategy, particularly for professionals handling sensitive data or conducting high-stakes transactions. HTTPS, an extension of HTTP, encrypts data in transit between a user's browser and the web server, effectively mitigating man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdropping attempts. This protocol utilizes TLS (Transport Layer Security) or its predecessor, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), to establish an encrypted connection, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.

When implementing HTTPS, it's crucial to use strong cipher suites and up-to-date TLS versions (preferably TLS 1.3) to maximize security. Additionally, proper certificate management, including regular renewals and adherence to best practices like Certificate Transparency, is essential for maintaining a trustworthy HTTPS implementation.


6. Regular Penetration Testing: Periodic manual penetration testing is a critical component of a robust cybersecurity strategy, particularly when evaluating the efficacy of authentication mechanisms. This process involves skilled security professionals simulating real-world attack scenarios to identify vulnerabilities that automated tools might miss.
When focusing on authentication mechanisms, penetration testers typically employ a multi-faceted approach. They may start by attempting various password cracking techniques, including dictionary attacks, brute force methods, and rainbow table lookups. These tests can reveal weaknesses in password policies or hashing algorithms.
Pensters also scrutinize the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) systems. They might attempt to bypass or circumvent MFA through methods such as SIM swapping, social engineering, or exploiting flaws in the recovery process. Additionally, they evaluate the resilience of the system against session hijacking, token theft, or replay attacks.
Another crucial aspect is testing for vulnerabilities in the authentication flow itself. This includes examining how the system handles invalid inputs, excessive login attempts, or unexpected user behaviors. Penetration testers may attempt to exploit race conditions, inject malicious payloads, or manipulate authentication tokens to gain unauthorized access.

Organizations can significantly reduce the risk of credential-based security breaches by understanding these attacks and employing robust defences.