Credential stuffing exploits password reuse—when users use the same credentials across multiple sites, a breach at one service compromises accounts everywhere.
How credential stuffing works
- Attackers obtain credential lists from data breaches (often sold on dark web).
- Automated tools test these credentials against target login pages at scale.
- Successful logins grant access to accounts, payment methods, and personal data.
- Compromised accounts are used for fraud, identity theft, or sold to other criminals.
Why it's effective
- 65% of users reuse passwords across multiple accounts.
- Billions of leaked credentials are freely available.
- Automated tools can test millions of combinations quickly.
- Many sites lack adequate bot detection or rate limiting.
Defense strategies
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to block password-only access.
- Deploy bot detection and CAPTCHA on login forms.
- Use rate limiting to slow automated login attempts.
- Monitor for credential leaks using breach notification services.
- Enforce strong, unique passwords via password policies.
- Check passwords against known breach databases (like Have I Been Pwned).
- Implement account lockout after failed attempts.
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