Understanding the threat landscape
After identifying compromised accounts, the IT team investigates how attackers gained access.
Its findings reveal a pattern: the attacks weren't highly technical—instead, they relied on exploiting how passwords are used.
Common password-based attacks
The organization's investigation highlights three common attack methods:
| Attack type | How it works | Why it succeeds |
|---|---|---|
| Phishing | Fake login pages | Users reveal credentials |
| Credential stuffing | Reused passwords | Same password across services |
| Brute force | Automated guessing | Weak or common passwords |
Why passwords are a weak control
Although these attacks differ in approach, they exploit the same fundamental issue: passwords rely on knowledge that can be stolen, reused, or guessed.
Unlike other forms of authentication, passwords:
- Are shared secrets between the user and the system
- Can be captured without the user's awareness
- Provide no guarantee that the person signing in is the legitimate user
In this organization's case, attackers didn't need to bypass security controls—they simply used valid credentials.
The authentication gap
The IT team identifies two critical gaps in its security model:
- Authentication verifies what a user knows, not who they're
- Possession of a password is treated as proof of identity
This creates a situation where stolen credentials are enough to gain access. Additional protections are needed to help prevent attackers from exploiting this weakness.
Moving toward stronger authentication
To address the gap in its security, the organization needs authentication methods that:
- Don't rely on shared secrets
- Require proof tied to a user or trusted device
These requirements lead the IT team to explore passwordless authentication, where identity is verified using stronger, more reliable factors.
Key takeaway
Password-based attacks often succeed because passwords can be stolen, reused, or guessed, creating opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized access.
By understanding these risks, the IT team can move toward authentication methods that provide stronger protection and reduce the likelihood of account compromise.