9 Best Practices for Preventing Credential Stuffing Attacks

Written by StrongDM.

Online accounts are repositories of sensitive personal information, making it crucial to protect this data from cybercriminals. As credential stuffing attacks become more frequent, it's essential to stay one step ahead of attackers to ensure the security of your employees' and customers' data.

It's important to understand the dangers of credential stuffing attacks, familiarize yourself with the tactics attackers commonly use, recognize the indicators of potentially compromised accounts, and learn about credential stuffing prevention strategies to minimize your risk.

Understanding the Risks of Credential Stuffing Attacks

Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities, such as weak or reused passwords. The harmful impacts of a credential stuffing attack can range from unauthorized access to your company’s confidential data to identity theft, financial losses, reputational harm, and even legal consequences for your organization.

Common Techniques Used in Credential Stuffing Attacks

Effective prevention of credential stuffing starts with understanding the methods attackers use. In these breaches, cybercriminals employ stolen or compromised login credentials from one breach to access accounts on other platforms, typically using techniques like:

• Botnets: These are networks of hijacked computers capable of generating a vast number of login attempts in seconds, which can overwhelm and evade website defenses.
• Credential Databases: Attackers acquire usernames and passwords from data breaches at other sites and use these credentials to initiate attacks on various platforms, banking on the likelihood that users have reused their passwords.
• Proxy Servers: By channeling their traffic through proxy servers or VPNs, attackers can disguise their login attempts as originating from multiple locations, complicating detection and blocking efforts by websites.

Signs That Your Accounts May Be Compromised

Recognizing the signs of compromise early can help mitigate the effects of an attack. Here are general indicators to watch for if such monitoring isn't in place:

• Unusual Activity: Strange transactions, posts, or messages on your accounts, or odd messages sent to your contacts, could indicate a breach.
• Failed Login Attempts: Alerts about failed login attempts can suggest attempts at unauthorized access.
• Password Reset Requests: If you receive password reset notifications that you did not initiate, it’s possible your credentials have been compromised.

If you or your employees observe any of these signs, it’s important to stay calm and informed. Continue reading to discover strategies to prevent credential stuffing attacks and secure your accounts.

Best Practices to Prevent Credential Stuffing Attacks

Here are nine best practices to bolster your defenses against credential stuffing attacks:

1. Promote Credential Hygiene Among Employees and Users

• Avoid Password Reuse: Encourage the use of unique passwords for each account to prevent a single compromised password from jeopardizing multiple accounts.
• Create Strong Passwords: Advocate for passwords that include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters to enhance security.
• Change Passwords Regularly: Implement regular password updates to decrease the likelihood of unauthorized access and use password management tools to streamline this process.

2. Educate Employees on Recognizing Phishing and Suspicious Sites

• Identify Phishing Emails: Train employees to spot warning signs such as typos, grammatical errors, and suspicious links or attachments.
• Verify Website Authenticity: Teach employees to check for HTTPS in URLs, validate SSL certificates, and confirm accurate website addresses before entering login details.
• Report Suspicious Activities: Create a clear protocol for reporting questionable emails, websites, or login attempts to facilitate prompt action.

3. Enforce Strong Password Policies

• Set Requirements for Length and Complexity: Mandate a minimum password length with a mix of character types.
• Implement Password Expirations and History: Require regular password changes without repeating previous passwords.
• Establish an Account Lockout Policy: Lock accounts temporarily after several unsuccessful login attempts to deter brute force attacks.

4. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• MFA adds a crucial layer of security by requiring additional verification such as a physical device, a unique code, or biometric data. This makes unauthorized access significantly more difficult even if credentials are compromised.

5. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)

• WAFs help protect against various threats by blocking suspicious login attempts and monitoring for behaviors typical of credential stuffing. Regularly updating and monitoring your WAF ensures it remains effective against new threats.

6. Utilize Single Sign-On (SSO)

• SSO allows users to authenticate once and access multiple applications securely without needing to log in repeatedly. This not only simplifies user access but also reduces the risk of credential theft.

7. Implement CAPTCHA

• CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) serves as a common security tool to differentiate humans from automated bots. By requiring users to complete tasks like selecting specific images or typing distorted characters, CAPTCHA helps prevent automated tools used in credential stuffing attacks. However, as cybercriminals' methods evolve and some bots learn to bypass CAPTCHA, it should be used alongside other security measures for better protection.

8. Monitor for Unusual Activity

• Constant monitoring is crucial to detect and respond to credential stuffing attacks swiftly. Set up a system to track and analyze user behavior, login attempts, and account activities. Establish alerts for any abnormal activities and routinely inspect logs and audit trails to catch potential security issues.

9. Adopt Passwordless Authentication

• While strong passwords can deter unauthorized access, passwordless authentication offers a higher level of security. This method eliminates the need for traditional usernames and passwords by relying on "who you are" instead of "what you know." Authentication is typically performed using biometrics, hardware tokens, or one-time codes delivered through secure channels, enhancing security and user convenience.