Compromised credentials refer to usernames, passwords, and other forms of authorization that have fallen into the wrong hands, typically due to cybercriminal activities. Detecting compromised credentials before attackers can use them mitigates unauthorized access to sensitive systems, networks, applications, and data. Strategies like dark web monitoring help identify stolen credentials traded online, so security teams can remediate issues proactively.
Compromised Credentials Monitoring: A Brief Overview
What are compromised credentials?
Compromised credentials are login details like usernames, passwords, or session tokens that have been exposed. When stolen or leaked, these details can allow unauthorized access to accounts. Attackers known as initial access brokers (IAB) often sell compromised credentials on dark web forums or in illicit Telegram channels. IABs are a critical part of the Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) supply chain.
What are common causes of compromised credentials?
Credentials can be compromised in various ways, so security teams should have the appropriate security controls and monitoring capabilities available.
Phishing Campaigns
Phishing campaigns are fake emails that attackers use to trick people into clicking on malicious links or downloading malicious attachments. Attackers use these malicious sites and attachments to steal credentials, enabling them to compromise accounts across different business sectors.
Brute Force Attacks
Brute force attacks are a cyber attack method where cybercriminals guess weak or reused passwords, systematically trying every possible password combination until they gain unauthorized access. This approach is often used when credentials have not been previously compromised or exposed.
Insider Threats
Users can accidentally or maliciously share credentials that lead to a data leak. Sometimes employees share credentials so that people can have access rather than waiting for official approval. Sometimes disgruntled employees misuse or give away their credentials to harm the organizations.
Malware
Malware often leads to leaked credentials by stealing them off people’s computers. Infosealer malware records sensitive information from a user’s computer, like credentials, then rolls them up into stealer logs, files containing all the data captured from the compromised system.
How can security teams detect compromised user credentials?
Detecting compromised user credentials often involves different tools working together to minimize risks. Monitoring dark web forums and social media can provide early warnings about compromised credentials. Continuous monitoring of these platforms helps identify threats from third-party leaks, malware, and botnets. When paired with user behavior monitoring, security teams can identify activities that deviate from a user’s normal behavior that might indicate attackers gained unauthorized access using leaked credentials.
Why Do Security Teams Need Compromised Credentials Monitoring in Today’s Cybersecurity Landscape?
What are the security risks that compromised credentials pose to organizations?
Compromised credentials give cybercriminals unauthorized access to systems, enabling them to imitate legitimate users so they can steal data and perpetrate fraud. Some examples of the security risks that compromised credentials pose include:
- Data theft: Unauthorized data access and exfiltration.
- Financial fraud: Transfer of funds and fraudulent purchases.
- Ransomware: Installation of harmful software that makes data or systems unusable, followed by ransom demands.
- Account takeover: Complete control over compromised accounts.
- Advanced threats: Execution of complex persistent threats impacting operations.
What is dark web monitoring for credential leaks?
Dark web monitoring scans cybercriminals forums and markets to identify stolen credentials being sold. Monitoring services cross-check with databases of known breaches so security teams can take quick action, such as password resets.
The key benefits of dark web monitoring include:
- Real-time alerts on compromised credential leaks
- Continuous monitoring of unauthorized access
- Improved security measures and password management
- Mitigation of threats from recycled and weak passwords
What are mitigation strategies for compromised credentials?
To limit breach impacts, security teams need to respond quickly. Some typical mitigation strategies include:
- Password Resets: Immediately reset passwords of affected users and require strong, unique passwords.
- Authentication Mechanisms: Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security by verifying legitimate users and deter bad actors.
- Continuous Monitoring: Implement tools for real-time threat detection to identify security incidents, allowing for rapid responses.
- Credential Leak Monitoring: Constantly watch for leaked credentials, especially on dark web forums, to proactively detect potential security issues.
- Education on Phishing: Educate users on recognizing phishing attacks. Informed users are less likely to fall prey to threat actors.
How Flare Helps with Compromised Credentials Monitoring
How Flare enables compromised credentials monitoring
Flare’s automated dark, deep, and clear web scans and illicit Telegram channels monitoring identifies mentions of a company, its users, or its domains in malicious actors communications. Additionally, our platform monitors anonymous sharing websites, like Pastebin, so security teams can identify their company or email domain. By integrating this data into their security monitoring, they can take proactive risk mitigation steps.
Why Flare’s compromised credentials monitoring helps security teams
With Flare’s platform, security teams can identify threats beyond their network’s perimeter to protect their digital infrastructure. Compromised credentials enable adversaries to gain a foothold in connected systems. With Flare’s platform, security teams can automate searches across the cybercriminal ecosystem, saving time and identifying risky credentials sooner.
Key benefits of Flare’s compromised credentials monitoring solution
Flare’s leaked credentials monitoring enables organizations to:
- Monitor 20+ billion leaked credentials
- Proactively identify data leaks and remediate risks before a data breach occurs
- Gain actionable alerts that filter through noise to identify true threats
Compromised Credentials Monitoring and Flare
The Flare Threat Exposure Management (TEM) solution empowers organizations to proactively detect, prioritize, and mitigate the types of exposures commonly exploited by threat actors. Our platform automatically scans the clear & dark web and prominent threat actor communities 24/7 to discover unknown events, prioritize risks, and deliver actionable intelligence you can use instantly to improve security. Flare’s automated dark, deep, and clear web scans and monitoring of illicit Telegram channels helps identify compromised credentials so you can proactively identify credentials for sale and mitigate data breach risks.
Flare integrates into your security program in 30 minutes and often replaces several SaaS and open source tools. Learn more by signing up for our free trial.
