In an increasingly digital world, cyber threats are evolving at an alarming rate. One of the most insidious and rapidly growing types of attack is credential stuffing. This automated attack leverages stolen user credentials to gain unauthorised access to accounts, leading to data theft, financial fraud, and payment fraud. As more data breaches occur and billions of credentials become available on the dark web, it’s crucial for both individuals and businesses to understand the risks of credential stuffing attacks and take steps to protect themselves.
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What Is Credential Stuffing?
Credential stuffing meaning refers to a type of cyberattack where hackers use lists of compromised user credentials, typically consisting of username and password combinations, to gain unauthorised access to user accounts through large-scale automated login requests. Unlike traditional brute-force attacks that attempt to guess passwords, credential stuffing attacks leverage actual credential pairs that have been exposed through data breaches.
Attackers use automated tools and botnets to test the stolen credentials against a wide range of websites and applications. Because many users reuse the same passwords across multiple services, a single set of exposed credentials can potentially give hackers access to multiple accounts. While the success rate of these attacks may be low, even a small percentage of successful logins can result in significant consequences for both individuals and businesses.
How Does a Credential Stuffing Attack Work?
A credential stuffing attack typically follows a three-step process:
1. Data Breach:
Hackers obtain lists of stolen credentials from data breaches, phishing scams, or malware attacks. These credentials are often traded or sold on the dark web.
2. Automation:
Using automated tools and botnets, attackers test the stolen credentials against many different websites and applications simultaneously. This allows them to perform a large-scale attack quickly and efficiently.
3. Account Takeover:
When a set of credentials successfully logs into an account, the attacker gains unauthorised access. They can then steal sensitive data, make fraudulent transactions, or sell the account on the dark web.
While the success rate of credential stuffing is relatively low (around 0.1%), the sheer volume of attempts makes it a significant threat. Even a small percentage of successful logins can result in a high number of compromised accounts.
Credential Stuffing vs Brute Force vs Password Spraying
Credential stuffing, brute force attacks, and password spraying are all methods used to gain unauthorised account access, but they work in different ways:
1. Brute Force Attacks:
These involve guessing passwords by trying every possible combination of characters until the correct one is found. Unlike credential stuffing, brute force attacks don’t leverage stolen credentials.
2. Password Spraying:
Attackers test a small number of commonly used passwords (like “password123” or “qwerty”) against many different accounts. This method is less likely to trigger account lockouts than brute force attacks.
3. Credentials Stuffing:
Attackers automate the process of testing stolen username and password pairs across multiple websites. Because credential stuffing attacks use real credential pairs, they are harder to detect and can more easily bypass traditional login protections.
5 Stages of a Credential Stuffing Attack
Credential stuffing attacks typically progress through five distinct stages:
1. Data Acquisition
Attackers obtain lists of stolen credentials from data breaches, phishing scams, malware, or dark web marketplaces. The more credential pairs they have, the more effective the attack.
2. Automation Process
Attackers use automated tools like botnets, proxies, and scripting tools to test stolen credentials across many sites simultaneously. Automation makes credential stuffing fast and efficient.
3. Targeting Strategy
Attackers must decide which sites and services to target. They often focus on high-value targets like banks, online retailers, and payment services where successful payment fraud attacks can be lucrative.
4. Execution Phase
The automated tools test the stolen credential pairs against the target sites. Attackers typically distribute login requests across multiple IP addresses to avoid triggering rate limits or account lockouts.
5. Attack Success
When a set of credentials successfully logs into an account, the attacker gains unauthorized access. They can then steal data, make purchases, or conduct other fraudulent activities like credit card fraud.
Real-World Examples of Credential Stuffing Attacks
Credential stuffing attacks have impacted many high-profile companies in recent years:
1. DailyMotion
In 2016, the video sharing platform suffered a data breach that exposed 85.2 million unique email addresses and passwords. That data was later used in a credential stuffing attack.
2. Dunkin’ Donuts
In 2018, hackers used credential stuffing to gain access to customer accounts on the Dunkin’ Donuts website and mobile app. The exposed data included customer names, email addresses, account numbers, and QR codes.
3. Reddit
Reddit disclosed a credential stuffing attack in 2018 where attackers gained access to some user accounts. The company responded by resetting passwords and encouraging users to enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
4. Spotify
The music streaming service has suffered multiple credential stuffing attacks. In 2020, hackers used exposed credentials to access 350,000 accounts and make unauthorised changes.
Reasons for the Rise of Credential Stuffing Attacks
Several factors have contributed to the significant growth of credential stuffing in recent years:
1. Availability of Stolen Credentials
The number of data breaches has skyrocketed, exposing billions of credentials. These stolen credentials often end up on the dark web where they fuel credential stuffing attacks.
2. Advancements in Technology
The tools for automating credential stuffing attacks have become more sophisticated and widely available. Attackers can easily rent botnets and use off-the-shelf tools to mount large-scale attacks.
3. Low Barriers for Attackers
Credential stuffing has a low cost and high potential payoff for attackers. Automated tools make it easy to test a large number of credentials quickly, and even a small success rate can be profitable.
4. The Shift to Remote Work
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to quickly adopt remote work solutions, often without adequate security measures in place. This has made them more vulnerable to credential stuffing and other attacks.
5. Difficulty in Detection
Credential stuffing attacks can be hard to distinguish from normal login traffic, particularly if attackers use techniques like low and slow attacks or rotating IP addresses. This makes it challenging for traditional security tools to detect.
The Economic Impact of Credential Stuffing
Credential stuffing attacks can have a significant financial impact on both businesses and consumers:
1. Account Fraud:
Attackers can use hijacked accounts to make fraudulent purchases, drain bank accounts, or steal loyalty points and rewards.
2. Remediation Costs:
Businesses must spend time and resources investigating attacks, resetting passwords, and compensating customers. The average cost of a credential stuffing attack is $6 million per year for businesses.
3. Reputation Damage:
Data breaches and account hijacking can erode customer trust and damage a company’s brand reputation. This can lead to customer churn and lost business.
3. Payment Fraud:
Credential stuffing is a major contributor to payment fraud like credit card fraud. When attackers gain access to accounts with stored payment information, they can make unauthorised purchases.
Best Practices for Detecting and Preventing Credential Stuffing
While credential stuffing is a serious threat, there are steps that both individuals and businesses can take to protect themselves:
1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA requires users to provide an additional form of verification beyond a password, such as a code from a mobile app or a fingerprint scan. This makes it much harder for attackers to gain unauthorized account access, even if they have the correct credentials.
2. Maintain Strong IT Hygiene
Regularly updating software, using strong and unique passwords, and monitoring for data breaches can help reduce the risk of credential stuffing. Individuals should use password managers to generate and store complex passwords, and businesses should implement password policies and regular security training for employees.
3. Implement Proactive Threat Hunting
Businesses should proactively monitor for signs of credential stuffing attacks, such as spikes in failed login attempts or logins from unusual locations. Threat hunting can help identify and block attacks early before they result in account compromise.
4. Educate Employees About Password Security
Employees are often the weakest link in an organization’s security posture. Regular training on password best practices, identifying phishing attempts, and proper data handling can help reduce the risk of credential theft and credential stuffing attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Stop Credential Stuffing?
While 2FA is not foolproof, it is a very effective way to prevent credential stuffing. Even if an attacker has the correct username and password, they typically won’t be able to provide the second factor of authentication (like a code from an authenticator app). This can stop the vast majority of credential stuffing attacks.
2. What Should You Do If Your Credentials Have Been Stolen?
If you suspect your credentials have been compromised in a data breach, change your password immediately on any sites where you used that password. Also, be sure to monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity. Consider signing up for an identity monitoring service that can alert you if your personal information appears on the dark web.
3. Are Any Tools Available to Detect Credential Stuffing?
Yes, there are a variety of tools and services designed to detect and block credential stuffing attacks. These include bot detection solutions, web application firewalls (WAFs), and user behavior analytics tools. Many of these solutions use machine learning and AI to distinguish between legitimate login attempts and automated credential stuffing.
4. How can I check if my credentials were leaked?
There are several websites that allow you to check if your email address or username has been involved in a known data breach, such as HaveIBeenPwned and Firefox Monitor. If your credentials appear in a breach, change your password immediately on any sites where you used those credentials.
5. Why should I be worried about credential stuffing if I use different passwords?
Using unique passwords for each account is a critical best practice, but it doesn’t make you immune to credential stuffing. If even one of your accounts is compromised in a data breach, attackers could use those credentials to try to access your other accounts. That’s why it’s important to use strong, unique passwords and enable MFA wherever possible.
6. How often should I change my passwords to stay safe?
Conventional wisdom used to recommend changing passwords every 30 to 90 days. However, more recent guidance from NIST and other cybersecurity organizations suggests that mandatory password changes are not very effective and can actually lead to weaker passwords. Instead, it’s best to change your passwords if you suspect they’ve been compromised, and to use unique, complex passwords for each account.
7. Are businesses at risk from credential stuffing, or is it just individuals?
Both businesses and individuals are at risk from credential stuffing attacks. In fact, businesses are often attractive targets because they may have valuable data or access to financial systems. Successful attacks can lead to data breaches, fraud losses, and reputational damage for companies. That’s why it’s critical for businesses to take proactive measures to prevent and detect credential stuffing attempts.
