Credential-related attacks—such as phishing, brute force, and credential stuffing—remain the most common initial infection vectors for Microsoft 365 (M365) and cloud account compromises. Attackers no longer need sophisticated malware; they simply log in using stolen credentials.
You Should Know: How to Defend Against Credential Attacks
1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA is the most effective way to prevent unauthorized access.
Linux Command to Check MFA Status (AWS CLI):
aws iam get-account-summary | grep "MFADevices"
Windows (PowerShell) to Enforce MFA:
Get-MsolUser | ForEach-Object { Set-MsolUser -UserPrincipalName $_.UserPrincipalName -StrongAuthenticationRequirements @{State="Enabled"} }
2. Monitor for Brute Force Attempts
Use fail2ban on Linux to block repeated login attempts:
sudo apt install fail2ban sudo systemctl enable fail2ban sudo systemctl start fail2ban
Windows (Detect RDP Brute Force via Event Logs):
Get-WinEvent -LogName 'Security' -FilterXPath "[System[EventID=4625]]" | Format-Table -AutoSize
3. Prevent Credential Stuffing with Password Policies
Linux (Enforce Strong Passwords with PAM):
sudo nano /etc/pam.d/common-password Add: password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 minlen=12 lcredit=-1 ucredit=-1 dcredit=-1 ocredit=-1
Windows (Set Password Policy via GPO):
net accounts /MINPWLEN:12
- Detect Phishing with DMARC, DKIM, and SPF
Linux (Check DNS Records for Email Security):
dig TXT example.com nslookup -type=TXT example.com
5. Continuous Monitoring with SIEM Tools
Linux (Analyze Auth Logs for Suspicious Activity):
grep "Failed password" /var/log/auth.log
Windows (Check Azure AD Sign-In Logs):
Get-AzureADAuditSignInLogs -All $true | Where-Object { $_.Status.ErrorCode -ne 0 }
What Undercode Say
Credential attacks are evolving, and defenders must shift from perimeter-based security to identity-centric protection. Key takeaways:
– MFA is non-negotiable.
– Monitor login attempts aggressively.
– Enforce strict password policies.
– Use email authentication (DMARC/DKIM/SPF).
– Deploy SIEM for real-time threat detection.
Expected Output: A hardened environment where stolen credentials alone are insufficient for attackers to breach your systems.
Prediction
As cloud adoption grows, credential-based attacks will surge, pushing organizations toward passwordless authentication (e.g., FIDO2 keys) and AI-driven anomaly detection.
Relevant URL: Mandiant M-Trends 2025 Report
References:
Reported By: Spenceralessi Cloud – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
