Enhancing Awareness of Identity-Based Cyber Threats with CoAction

It is alarming to learn that 80% of security breaches involve compromised identities, often taking as long as 250 days to detect. The challenge lies in detecting identity-driven attacks, which are notably difficult when a legitimate user’s credentials are hijacked by an adversary. Distinguishing between normal user behavior and that of a hacker using traditional security tools is often insufficient. By focusing on a proactive security strategy, CoAction provides advanced protection against a range of identity threats, including sophisticated attacks that exploit stolen credentials, manipulate authentication protocols, and intercept secure communications. Their comprehensive approach integrates AI-driven analytics and multi-layered defense mechanisms to ensure that companies can safeguard their operations and maintain trust with their clients. To navigate this complex threat landscape, it is essential to explore seven prevalent types of identity-based attacks and their mechanisms:

1. Credential Stuffing This cyberattack involves using stolen login details from one system to access other unrelated systems. Attackers acquire these credentials through breaches or purchases on the dark web and utilize automation tools, like botnets, to simultaneously attempt logins across multiple accounts, seeking access to additional sensitive information.
2. Golden Ticket Attack This attack targets the Microsoft Active Directory (AD) to gain extensive access across an organization’s domain. By exploiting the Kerberos protocol, attackers can bypass standard authentication procedures, leveraging vulnerabilities to control user accounts.
3. Kerberoasting Post-exploitation, this technique aims to crack the passwords of AD service accounts. Attackers masquerade as legitimate users to request encrypted passwords, which they then attempt to decrypt offline using brute force methods.
4. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack MITM attacks involve intercepting and eavesdropping on the digital conversations between two parties to steal sensitive data like passwords or banking details, or to manipulate the victim into making unauthorized decisions.
5. Pass-the-Hash Attack In this scenario, attackers steal hashed credentials to authenticate themselves on a network, enabling them to move laterally, escalate privileges, and maintain persistent access by establishing backdoors.
6. Password Spraying This brute force technique involves using common passwords across multiple user accounts to gain unauthorized access. Attackers cycle through different passwords and usernames until they successfully breach the system.
7. Silver Ticket Attack Similar to the Golden Ticket, this attack uses forged authentication tickets to access specific services within a network. Attackers can then elevate their privileges locally and further compromise the network.

CoAction with the help of partners use Identity Protection Solutions, which combines advanced AI, behavioral analytics, and a flexible policy engine to detect and prevent identity-based threats in real-time. These solutions enforces risk-based conditional access policies, ensuring security without compromising the user experience. For more insights on combatting identity-based attacks with comprehensive solutions reach out to a CoAction representative today.