Credential Stuffing: Strengthening Security Beyond Federated Applications

The convenience of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications has revolutionized how businesses operate. Organizations rely on a myriad of SaaS platforms, from communications to project management and beyond, to streamline workflows and enhance productivity. However, this convenience comes with a price, as cyber threats loom more significant than ever, with credential stuffing attacks becoming a primary technique threat actors use to compromise systems.

Okta warns of increasing Credential Stuffing attacks

Recent warnings from IAM services provider Okta have highlighted a spike in credential stuffing attacks driven by the availability of residential proxy services, stolen credential lists, and sophisticated scripting tools. While solutions like Okta offer robust identity and access management for federated apps, the landscape extends beyond these boundaries.

So, what is credential stuffing, exactly? It is a type of cyberattack where cybercriminals leverage stolen usernames and passwords obtained from previous data breaches to gain unauthorized access to user accounts on other platforms. This method exploits the common practice of users reusing passwords (personal or corporate) across multiple accounts, making it a lucrative tactic for hackers.

Visibility remains a challenge, but solutions do exist

One critical challenge organizations face is the lack of visibility into unfederated SaaS apps that may exist within their IT environment. These apps, often adopted by individual teams or departments without IT oversight, pose significant security risks. They become vulnerable entry points for cyber attackers without proper monitoring and management.

To address this gap in security, organizations must adopt dedicated solutions for monitoring SaaS apps and alerting the security department to potential threats. These solutions provide essential functionalities like real-time monitoring, password strength assessment, dark web password breach detection, and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforcement.

Organizations can proactively identify and mitigate SaaS-identity issues, such as weak passwords or compromised credentials, by implementing such solutions before they lead to a breach. Additionally, the Savvy SaaS Security platform enables IT teams to enforce more robust security measures, such as monitoring and discovering SaaS apps without MFA and providing automated workflows to require users to adhere to their policies and requirements. Savvy also goes beyond a single point-in-time review to provide continuous validation that MFA is enabled and that users are not circumventing the secondary authentication method.

Making good security hygiene an org-wide standard operating procedure

Furthermore, organizations must prioritize education and awareness among employees to encourage better password hygiene and discourage the reuse of passwords across multiple accounts. However, we know education is not enough, so having solutions that allow organizations to enforce these practices is critical.

At Savvy, we understand the importance of finding the right balance of productivity and security for your organization. That’s why Savvy’s automation playbooks apply fully customizable, just-in-time security guardrails that interact with users to maintain productivity and make smarter security decisions. With Savvy, you choose whether security controls are strict, flexible, or conditional based on user and business context.

Automation to the rescue

Savvy playbooks are viewed and built with our no-code visual editor, built into the Savvy platform. Just-in-time security guardrails can empower employees to recognize phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals to steal credentials.

Combatting SaaS Challenges with Savvy

While solutions like Okta provide valuable identity and access management for federated apps, they do not offer visibility into unfederated SaaS apps, leaving organizations vulnerable to credential-stuffing attacks. To strengthen security posture, organizations must invest in dedicated solutions for monitoring SaaS apps and enforcing robust security measures. By proactively addressing this growing threat, organizations can better protect their digital assets and safeguard sensitive information from cyber threats.

Savvy helps organizations overcome the challenges of managing their SaaS environments. Savvy uses a sophisticated, identity-first approach, helping organizations discover and understand their SaaS landscape and operations. With Savvy, organizations can evaluate toxic access combinations, uncover hidden Business-led IT resources, and streamline compliance processes.

Take control over SaaS security, making it part of your overall IT organization rather than an exception. Schedule a demo today to see Savvy in action.