What Is Credential Stuffing and How Does It Lead to Data Breaches?
Reusing the same password on several sites may feel convenient, but it hands criminals a powerful tool known as credential stuffing. Attackers take username‑and‑password combos stolen in one breach and ‘stuff’ them into login pages everywhere else, betting that at least some will work. People can only retain so much information before they need to start writing things down, and when it comes to passwords, it’s not uncommon for people to reuse a favorite word or phrase across different websites and platforms. However, this practice can make you more vulnerable online.
Learn more about how these credential stuffing attacks happen, ways to prevent them, and how you might be entitled to compensation if you’ve been the victim of a credential stuffing-related cyberattack.
Understanding Credential Stuffing and Its Role in Data Breaches
Credential stuffing remains one of the most effective tactics in a cybercriminal’s toolkit. With over 15 billion stolen credentials circulating online, attackers have a massive database to draw from. It’s a particularly dangerous threat because it exploits the widespread habit of password reuse. In fact, in one study, 84 percent of global respondents admitted to reusing passwords across more than one site.
For credential stuffing to succeed, usernames and passwords must be the same or similar across various websites and platforms. When users employ the same email and password combinations for different services, attackers can exploit this to access a wide range of personal data across multiple platforms.
How Does Credential Stuffing Happen?
Cybercriminals can gain access to personal usernames and passwords through a single data breach, files on the dark web, or other public sources. In addition to this personal data, they might also collect additional information like website URLs, API codes, and other details about cloud services or web servers.
The attackers then deploy bot-based attacks on large numbers of financial and other platforms using the name credentials and other collected data. If those items are reused, there is a significant risk of financial and other personal data losses.
Automated Attack Tools
Automation plays a critical role in credential stuffing attacks. Cybercriminals typically use bots capable of quickly trying millions of username and password combinations. These bots rely on databases of stolen credentials to launch large-scale, targeted attacks that significantly increase the likelihood of a successful data breach. Many websites and platforms lack sufficient security defenses, like rate limiting, so these bots can attempt unlimited logins without interruption.
Targeting High-Value Accounts
Credential stuffing usually targets websites and accounts that contain sensitive data, such as bank accounts, social media platforms, and email accounts. Once attackers gain access to these accounts, they can steal financial information, commit identity theft, or further exploit this data.
Snowball Effect: Access to More Sensitive Data
Once cybercriminals have successfully accessed an account, they may gain access to other personal data that provides access to additional valuable and sensitive information. This might include payment details, saved passwords, and account recovery options. This can create a snowball effect, where a single breach can expose even more data across multiple accounts and platforms.
Credential Stuffing vs. Brute Force Attacks vs. Password Spraying
Credential stuffing and password spraying are both forms of brute force attacks, a hacking method that cracks login credentials to give cybercriminals initial access to sensitive sites and personal data such as financial accounts, addresses, Social Security numbers, and more.
Credential stuffing happens when cybercriminals use large sets of stolen username and password combinations, often from previous breaches, to attempt to access multiple accounts on various platforms.
Brute force attacks are when bad actors try to guess passwords without clues or context, using random letters, numbers, and characters until they succeed. However, even the strongest random password is vulnerable when reused across multiple websites.
Password spraying occurs when attackers don’t actually have a person’s credentials. Instead, they attempt multiple logins using weak, common, and easily guessable password combinations, such as “123456” or “password123,” across many accounts, avoiding account lockouts by spreading attempts across multiple usernames.
Type of Victim Impacted
Regarding credential stuffing vs. spraying vs. brute force attacks, cybercriminals target victims who fail to take appropriate precautions with their credentials and websites with inadequate security.
For example, credential stuffing is most effective when users reuse passwords, making it quicker for attackers to breach multiple accounts with minimal effort. Password spraying usually targets accounts with common or weak passwords. Finally, brute force attacks can target weak passwords or systems with weak defenses, but they require significant computational resources and time.
What Types of Data Are at Risk in Credential Stuffing Attacks?
Hackers have specific goals when committing cybercrimes, meaning they don’t just target random pieces of data. Instead, they focus on information that can lead to a spiral or cascading effect, which offers opportunities for further exploitation or financial gain.
To avoid a credential stuffing attack, it’s essential to understand that certain types of data are particularly interesting to attackers because they can be reused, sold, or combined with other data for more significant impacts.
Personal Identification Information (PII)
Attackers often target names, addresses, and phone numbers because this data allows them to access sensitive personal details that can be used for identity theft or fraud. Other valuable data includes dates of birth and Social Security numbers, which can be used to open new accounts or impersonate the victim in various applications.
Account Login Credentials
The primary target of credential stuffing attacks is email addresses and passwords, which allows attackers to try to reuse those stolen login credentials to access multiple accounts. Secondary authentication data, such as backup recovery email addresses and security questions and answers, can also be valuable.
Financial Information
Access to online banking, digital wallets, and payment apps could be compromised, allowing hackers to steal funds or make fraudulent transactions. If a user stores their payment information online, it could be accessed during a data breach.
Health and Medical Information
Cybercriminals could access online health care accounts, stealing sensitive health-related information that may be sold or used fraudulently. Health insurance identification numbers could also be exploited to gain health care services or file false claims.
Social Media and Online Presence
Credential stuffing attackers can gain access to social media profiles, enabling them to impersonate victims, post harmful content, or steal private information. Once a person’s social media account has been compromised, attackers may access photos, personal conversations, and other private details.
Credentials for Other Online Services
Attackers can secure access to online services, such as shopping accounts, loyalty platforms, and streaming services, which can lead to unauthorized purchases or further data exposure.
How To Prevent Credential Stuffing Attacks?
Securing your personal data can save you time, money, and frustration. Some of the best ways to prevent and contain credential stuffing attacks include:
Use Unique and Strong Passwords
Avoid reusing passwords. Reusing passwords across different sites and platforms is never a good idea. Instead, create a unique password for each account to minimize the risk of credential stuffing if one account is compromised.
Create strong passwords. Create complex passwords with upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. These are harder for attackers to crack, even if they can access credential data.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Use multi-factor authentication. Enabling MFA, which typically involves having a code sent to your phone or email before a login, adds an extra layer of protection. Even if an attacker has the proper credentials, they will need the second layer of authentication to access your account.
Consider other authentication methods. Many websites or platforms offer additional authentication layers to strengthen account security. Some examples include physical security keys or biometrics, like face or fingerprint recognition.
Use a Password Manager
Store unique passwords. Using a password manager to store and manage complex passwords for different accounts is an efficient and safe way to avoid repeatedly using the same password.
Automate password generation. If you’re using a password manager, you can also automatically generate random and complex passwords for your accounts. This is the most secure option, and you won’t have to commit these random strings of characters to memory.
Monitor Account Activity
Monitor for suspicious logins. It’s wise to regularly check account log activity for signs of unauthorized access, especially for financial and other sensitive accounts.
Enable login alerts. Some websites let you set up SMS or email notifications when there is a new login attempt. You’ll know immediately if an unauthorized person tries to access your account.
Limit Login Attempts
Look for account lockout features. You can prevent and detect potential credential stuffing by limiting login attempts before restricting access. In other words, a website or service would only allow so many failed login attempts before limiting access or requiring a phone call from the account’s owner. This helps prevent automated credential stuffing attacks.
Use Secure Websites
Check for HTTPS. Consider only using HTTPS websites and platforms, which ensure data is encrypted and less likely to be intercepted by attackers.
Look for secure login options. Consumers and businesses should look for websites with secure login options, such as OAuth or single sign-on, which can improve security by reducing the number of times credentials are entered.
What Should You Do If You’ve Been a Victim of Credential Stuffing?
Determining what to do after a data breach can be confusing and intimidating, especially when your data and privacy are on the line. We recommend taking these steps:
- Review your credit and financial accounts. The goal of cyberattacks is nearly always financial. Check all of your accounts and change your passwords to be safe. The affected company might offer free credit and identity theft monitoring services if your data was stolen due to a corporate breach.
- Notify your accounts and the authorities. If your accounts have been compromised, notify your financial institutions so they can freeze them. It’s also a good idea to file a police report and a report with the Federal Trade Commission, so there is a record of your damages.
- Contact a data breach attorney. You should consider legal action if you’ve been affected by a cyberattack and data breach. You may be able to join a class action lawsuit against the organization that failed to protect your data. A data breach attorney can outline your legal options and explain your eligibility for financial compensation.
How Can CAU Help Victims of Credential Stuffing?
A credential stuffing cyberattack that compromises your personal data is a serious matter. If this happens, you might feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to turn for help. However, acting quickly is critical to safeguarding your data and protecting your rights.
If a data breach has impacted you, you may have the right to seek compensation through a class action lawsuit against the parties responsible for safeguarding your information. At Class Action U, we assist victims of data breaches caused by credential stuffing through resources and connections with experienced data breach lawyers. We take pride in holding companies accountable when they prioritize profits over data safety and consumer privacy.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
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