// THREAT DETECTION AND DATA PRIVACY TERM
Password Spray
Password spraying is a cyberattack where an attacker tries a single common password against many different user accounts before moving on to another password. This technique aims to avoid triggering account lockout policies that would occur if many failed password attempts were made against a single account.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Password spraying is a cyberattack technique that involves attempting a small set of common passwords against a large number of user accounts within an organization's authentication system. This method, a variation of brute-force and credential stuffing, is specifically designed to bypass account lockout policies by distributing login attempts across numerous targets, increasing the likelihood of successful credential compromise with a low-and-slow approach.
BACKGROUND
In cryptanalysis and computer security, password cracking is the process of guessing passwords protecting a computer system. A common approach is to repeatedly try guesses for the password and to check them against an available cryptographic hash of the password. Another type of approach is password spraying, which is often automated and occurs slowly over time to remain undetected, using a list of common passwords.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Reverse Brute Force
- Credential Testing
- Low-and-Slow Attack
- Login Spraying
- Horizontal Brute Force
USAGE NOTE
This attack is particularly effective against organizations with weak password policies or where many users reuse simple, common passwords.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Password Spray.
Develops security features within Azure Active Directory and Microsoft 365, such as Identity Protection and Conditional Access, to detect and mitigate password spray attacks targeting cloud-based user accounts.
Offers endpoint detection and response (EDR) and identity protection solutions that utilize AI and behavioral analytics to identify and prevent various attack techniques, including password spraying, across endpoints and identities.
Provides identity and access management (IAM) solutions that include adaptive multi-factor authentication, threat detection, and behavioral analytics to prevent unauthorized access attempts, such as those from password spraying.
Delivers a comprehensive cybersecurity platform including next-generation firewalls, cloud security, and security operations (Cortex XSOAR) capabilities designed to detect, prevent, and respond to various cyber threats, including password spray attacks.
Develops security operations solutions like InsightIDR (SIEM and XDR) which leverages user behavior analytics and threat intelligence to detect suspicious login activity and advanced attacks, including password spraying.
Provides a security information and event management (SIEM) platform used by organizations to collect, monitor, and analyze security data from various sources, enabling the detection of patterns indicative of password spray attacks and other threats.
Offers incident response, threat intelligence, and security validation services that help organizations identify, track, and remediate advanced cyber threats, including techniques like password spraying, often by providing insights and tools for detection.