OAT-008 Credential Stuffing
Credential Stuffing is an automated threat. The OWASP Automated Threat Handbook - Web Applications (pdf, print), an output of the OWASP Automated Threats to Web Applications Project, provides a fuller guide to each threat, detection methods and countermeasures. The threat identification chart helps to correctly identify the automated threat.
Definition
OWASP Automated Threat (OAT) Identity Number
OAT-008
Threat Event Name
Credential Stuffing
Summary Defining Characteristics
Mass log in attempts used to verify the validity of stolen username/password pairs.
Indicative Diagram
Description
Lists of authentication credentials stolen from elsewhere are tested against the application’s authentication mechanisms to identify whether users have re-used the same login credentials. The stolen usernames (often email addresses) and password pairs could have been sourced directly from another application by the attacker, purchased in a criminal marketplace, or obtained from publicly available breach data dumps.
Unlike OAT-007 Credential Cracking, Credential Stuffing does not involve any brute-forcing or guessing of values; instead credentials used in other applications are being tested for validity.
Other Names and Examples
Account checker attack; Account checking; Account takeover; Account takeover attack; Login Stuffing; Password list attack; Password re-use; Stolen credentials; Use of stolen credentials
See Also
Cross-References
CAPEC Category / Attack Pattern IDs
- 210 Abuse of Functionality
CWE Base / Class / Variant IDs
- 799 Improper Control of Interaction Frequency
- 837 Improper Enforcement of a Single, Unique Action
WASC Threat IDs
- 21 Insufficient Anti-Automation
- 42 Abuse of Functionality
OWASP Attack Category / Attack IDs
- Abuse of Functionality
- Credential Stuffing
Return to OWASP Automated Threats to Web Applications Project.