Highlights

  • When cybercriminals gain access to even a single compromised password, it provides a valuable foothold. They can use this information to attempt logins onto other platforms or systems through techniques like credential stuffing.
  • Attackers infiltrate systems where credentials are stored and leverage specialized tools to extract and decrypt saved usernames and passwords.

In today’s cyber threat landscape, credential harvesting has become a major concern, enabling breaches of privacy and organizational systems. For CISOs, IT Security Managers, and Security Analysts, especially in critical sectors, enhancing traditional email security with advanced defenses is essential to mitigate this risk.

Credential compromise can lead to severe operational and financial aftermath. The content presented cut through the noise to deliver detailed analysis of credential harvesting, equipping top cybersecurity experts with the insights essential to strengthen defenses and stay ahead of this ongoing threat.

How Credential Harvesting Works?

Hackers commonly use credential harvesters—tools designed to collect login credentials—to compromise accounts. These malicious programs are often embedded as extensions to websites or applications. Once installed, the harvester captures all the information users input during the login process.

Credential harvesters operate indiscriminately, recording every login attempt they encounter. This allows cybercriminals to amass large repositories of usernames and passwords. Such stockpiles are highly dangerous, as many individuals reuse passwords across multiple accounts—sometimes for years—making them vulnerable to widespread attacks.

When cybercriminals gain access to even a single compromised password, it provides a valuable foothold. They can use this information to attempt logins onto other platforms or systems through techniques like credential stuffing. Their ultimate goal is to gain unauthorized access to sensitive business data, such as financial records, personal health information, or confidential corporate systems. This poses significant risks for both individuals and organizations, threatening privacy, finances, and operational security.

Understanding how threat works is essential for recognizing various techniques used by malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities and breach sensitive information.

What Techniques are Used in Credential Harvesting?

Credential harvesting attacks are often executed alongside other cyber hazard techniques. Some of the most commonly used methods include:

  • Phishing

Polymorphic phishing attacks frequently exploit trust in well-known brands to deceive victims into revealing their login credentials. In large-scale credential harvesting campaigns, cybercriminals typically distribute mass emails designed to lure recipients into visiting a fraudulent website. On this site, victims unknowingly enter their credentials, which are then captured and stored by the credential harvesting tool, similar to how information is gathered during malware attacks.

  • Malware

Malware is prevalently used in credential harvesting attacks. In such cases, cybercriminals often distribute mass emails containing infected attachments. When unsuspecting users download these files, the malware is deployed onto their devices, enabling it to automatically capture and record their login credentials.

  • Domain spoofing

Domain spoofing is a phishing technique in which attackers mimic a trusted business or individual by creating a fake website or email domain to deceive victims. While the domain may appear legitimate at first glance, subtle differences—such as a “W” replaced with two “Vs,” or a lowercase “l” swapped for a capital “I”—reveal its fraudulent nature.

Users who are tricked into interacting with the spoofed site or application unknowingly provide their login information, which is then captured and stored by the credential harvester embedded in the fake site.

  • Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks

These attacks occur when a malicious actor executes and relays communications between two parties who erroneously believe they are directly communicating. These attacks enable the attacker to steal credentials and other sensitive information exchanged between the parties. Additionally, the attacker can eavesdrop on the entire communication, extracting even most valuable business data.

  • Credential dumping

Attackers infiltrate systems where credentials are stored and leverage specialized tools to extract and decrypt saved usernames and passwords. This method commonly targets Windows environments or browser-based password managers.

To effectively combat the growing threat of credential harvesting, it’s crucial to understand the underlying reasons driving the expansion of these attacks.

Why is Credential Harvesting Growing?

In today’s interconnected workplace, employees often manage numerous online accounts, making it challenging to track all login credentials. This difficulty increases the temptation to take shortcuts with cybersecurity, leaving both individuals and organizations exposed to potential cyberattacks.

As more organizations work with Single Sign-On (SSO) technology to support remote work and streamline the user experience, cybercriminals have become more aware of the vulnerabilities associated with stored passwords and user credentials.

Identity-based attacks, where attackers impersonate legitimate users, are especially hard to detect, as traditional cybersecurity measures often fail to distinguish between a real user and an attacker masquerading as one.

Safeguarding against credential-based attacks is essential, as they can serve as a gateway to more severe security threats, such as data breaches, identity theft, and malware or ransomware infections.

By understanding the reasons behind the rise in credential harvesting attacks, we can better grasp their profound impact on businesses and the risks they pose to organization’s operational technology and cybersecurity.

Impact on Businesses

Harvested credentials are a major threat to businesses, particularly in the financial services industry. These attacks can lead to severe consequences, including financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties.

  • Financial loss

When cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to financial accounts, they can drain funds or carry out fraudulent transactions. The financial impact of these actions can be significant, including not only the direct loss of funds but also the expenses related to investigating and addressing the breach.

  • Reputational harm

Customers rely on businesses to protect their sensitive information. Some costly data breaches caused by credential harvesters undermines this trust and inflicts severe reputational damage. The resulting negative publicity, loss of customers, and harm to brand reputation can have lasting effects, weakening businesses’ competitiveness and market position.

  • Regulatory penalties

In addition to financial losses and reputational damage, most businesses are subject to strict regulatory requirements to protect customer data and privacy. A successful credential harvesting web attack represents a failure to meet these standards, leading to significant fines, legal fees, and compliance costs.

Identifying credential harvesting attacks before they cause harm is crucial for protecting sensitive information and preventing major security risks in enterprises.

How to Recognize Credential Harvesting Attempts

While cybercriminals use various methods to access sensitive information, here are key signs of a credential harvesting attack to stay vigilant over:

  • Flooding phishing emails

A sudden increase in phishing emails targeting your organization’s employees, users, or partners may indicate an attempt to harvest credentials. Be wary of suspicious emails, especially those asking for login credentials or account verification.

  • High account lockouts

Frequent account lockouts or password reset requests across multiple employees or users may suggest that attackers are attempting to gain unauthorized access to their accounts.

  • Unusual IP addresses and logins

Keep an eye on your organization’s security systems for login attempts from unfamiliar IP addresses or locations, as this may indicate that attackers are attempting to access accounts using stolen credentials.

  • Malicious network traffic

Implement network traffic analysis for unauthorized access attempts, such as brute force logins or unusual data transfers, which may signal a credential harvesting attack.

  • Suspicious account activities

Check for unusual account activities like unauthorized transactions, setting changes, or access to sensitive data, which may indicate successful credential harvesting.

To effectively protect against credential harvesting, it is crucial to implement proactive measures that strengthen security and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

How to Prevent Credential Harvesting?

Understanding cybercriminal methods helps individuals and organizations defend against credential harvesting and safeguard sensitive information.

  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

MFA enhances security by requiring additional authentication and verification, like a one-time code sent to a mobile device, alongside a username and password. This considerably controls the risk of unauthorized access despite compromised login credentials.

  • Secure password usage

Encouraging users to set unique, strong passwords for each account is crucial to combat credential harvesting. Password managers help generate and securely store complex passwords, minimizing the risk of reuse across platforms.

  • Antivirus and email filtering

Robust email filtering and antivirus software can detect and block malicious emails and files, such as malware or spam, linked to credential harvesting attempts.

  • Monitoring with fraud detection software

Fraud prevention software tracks traffic, user, and entity behavior on websites, apps, and APIs to identify and block credential harvesting attempts in real-time. It also helps prevent other types of fraud, as many cyberattacks use automated techniques.

  • Behavioral biometrics

Behavioral biometric technologies monitor unique user patterns like typing speed, mouse movements, or navigation habits for continuous authentication. Any unusual behavior triggers alerts, helping prevent unauthorized access.

  • Secure network infrastructure

Your IT team must maintain a secure network with updated firewalls, intrusion detection systems, secure DNS services, and antivirus software. Regularly patch and update software and operating systems in business to fix vulnerabilities and warn employees or users about potentially malicious URLs.

Wrapping up

Falling victims to credential harvesting can have serious consequences. Attackers may exploit compromised accounts for financial gain, identity theft, or to launch further attacks. For businesses, the repercussions can include data breaches, reputational damage, financial losses, and legal penalties.

In today’s digital age, credential harvesting remains a constant threat. Understanding these patterns and their repercussions is vital for both individual users and businesses. By staying informed, adopting best corporate security practices, and implementing robust cybersecurity measures, organizations can better protect themselves against these cyber threats.

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