What characterizes a credential stuffing attack?

Enhance your cybersecurity career with Certification quizzes. Study with our questions and detailed explanations. Prepare effectively for your cybersecurity certifications!

A credential stuffing attack is characterized as a type of cyber attack where stolen usernames and passwords are exploited to gain unauthorized access to multiple accounts. This method takes advantage of the fact that many users tend to reuse the same credentials across different platforms and services.

In a typical scenario, an attacker obtains a database of compromised user credentials, often from a data breach, and then systematically tests these credentials across various online accounts to see if they can successfully log in. Because many individuals do not use unique passwords for each of their accounts, this method can be effectively exploited by cybercriminals to gain access to a wide range of accounts.

This contrasts sharply with other options. For example, phishing attacks focus specifically on tricking individuals into revealing their personal information or credentials, while encryption methods deal with securing data rather than exploiting vulnerabilities in user behavior. Social engineering targeting employees involves manipulating people into divulging confidential information without utilizing stolen credentials directly, making it distinctly different from credential stuffing.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy