One of the most effective yet often overlooked cyber threats is password spraying. This type of attack targets multiple user accounts using commonly used or weak passwords, allowing attackers to bypass typical security measures like account lockouts.
Unlike traditional brute-force techniques that focus on one account, password spraying operates under the radar—exploiting human behavior and password habits. In this article, we’ll break down how password spraying works, how it differs from other attack types, and what organizations can do to detect and prevent it.
Password spraying is a type of brute-force attack where the attacker tries a small number of widely used passwords across many different accounts. This approach is designed to avoid detection by circumventing lockout mechanisms, which are triggered by multiple failed attempts on a single account.
Gather usernames: Attackers often compile usernames from public directories, breached databases, or social media.
Use a common password list: They try popular or predictable passwords (e.g., Welcome123, Password1, Company2024) across multiple accounts.
Automate the process: Scripts and bots speed up the process while keeping the number of attempts per account low to avoid detection.
Because the same password is tested across many accounts—rather than many passwords against one account—the activity often slips past traditional security tools.
This method works because:
Many users still choose weak or easily guessable passwords.
Attackers stay under threshold limits for lockouts.
Logging activity may not appear abnormal when only one password is attempted per account.
Over the past several years, password spraying has become a preferred tactic among both independent threat actors and nation-state attackers due to its low cost and high success rate.
To understand the unique threat posed by password spraying, it's helpful to compare it with other common types of brute-force and credential-based attacks.
Brute-force attacks attempt every possible password combination against a single user account. While potentially effective, these attacks are noisy and often trigger security alarms or account lockouts.
Credential stuffing uses previously compromised login credentials (from data breaches) to attempt access across various services. It assumes users reuse passwords across platforms.
Password spraying’s key advantage is its stealth. By distributing login attempts across multiple accounts and keeping attempts per account low, it can go undetected by many standard monitoring tools—making it an insidious threat.
Preventing password spraying requires a combination of technical controls, user education, and proactive monitoring. The goal is to make it harder for attackers to succeed—and easier for organizations to spot attempts early.
Encourage or enforce:
Unique, complex passwords for each user
Password length of at least 12–14 characters
Regular updates to passwords
Use of password managers to help users comply
MFA adds a crucial layer of security. Even if a password is compromised, attackers cannot access the account without the second verification step.
Auditing authentication logs and security configurations helps detect patterns like:
Multiple failed login attempts across many accounts
Logins from unusual IP addresses or regions
High-volume login attempts in a short time frame
While password strength and MFA are essential, organizations can improve their defense posture further with the following actions:
Deploy tools that:
Detect login attempts to multiple accounts from the same IP
Trigger alerts for failed logins that fit password spraying patterns
Apply intelligent lockout policies that balance usability with security
Security awareness training should emphasize:
Dangers of using common or recycled passwords
Recognizing phishing attempts (often used in tandem with password attacks)
Proper use of MFA
Having a defined response strategy helps organizations quickly contain and recover from password spraying attempts. A strong plan should include:
Immediate password resets
Notification procedures for affected users
Post-incident reviews and system audits
Password spraying is a growing cyber threat that preys on weak passwords and poor user practices. Its stealthy nature makes it difficult to detect—but not impossible to prevent.
By implementing:
Strong password policies
Multi-factor authentication
Advanced monitoring tools
User education
Incident response plans
Organizations can significantly reduce their exposure to this type of attack.
Need help strengthening your cybersecurity? Our team specializes in protecting businesses from sophisticated threats like password spraying. Contact us today for tailored strategies to safeguard your systems and data.
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