Types of Identity-Based Attacks
Identity-based attacks are carried out in various ways exploiting specific vulnerabilities in identity management and authentication systems. Although the tactics evolve continuously, several primary types remain consistently prevalent.Phishing
Phishing is a well-known social engineering tactic that has been in use since the mid-1990s. Attackers use deceptive emails, text messages, phone calls, and other forms of communication to manipulate victims into providing credentials, installing malware, or revealing sensitive data. Despite becoming more sophisticated, phishing attacks continue to rely on human error to be successful.Social Engineering
Social engineering is a broader category of deception-based attacks that exploit human psychology to gain unauthorized access. Attackers manipulate victims by using emotions such as fear, urgency, or greed. Common tactics include:- Impersonating trusted entities to request login credentials.
- Creating fake emergencies to pressure targets into compliance.
- Posing as colleagues or executives to trick employees into transferring funds or disclosing confidential data.
Credential Stuffing
Credential stuffing attacks exploit the common habit of reusing passwords across multiple platforms. Attackers obtain breached credential lists from previous data leaks and automate login attempts across various services. Once successful, they can infiltrate multiple accounts.SIM Swapping
SIM swapping involves fraudsters deceiving mobile service providers into reassigning a victim’s phone number to a new SIM card controlled by the attacker. By taking over a victim’s phone number, attackers can intercept SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, and gain access to sensitive accounts like banking or email services.Password Spraying
Password spraying is a brute-force technique where attackers attempt to gain unauthorized access by testing a few commonly used passwords against multiple usernames. Unlike traditional brute-force attacks that focus on a single account with numerous password attempts, this method is designed to evade detection and avoid account lockouts. How it works:- Attackers compile usernames from public sources, leaked databases, or reconnaissance efforts.
- They select a small set of frequently used passwords.
- Each password is tested across a broad range of accounts until one grants access.
Adversary-in-the-Middle (AiTM)
Previously known as man-in-the-middle attacks, AiTM involves an attacker intercepting communications between two parties without their knowledge. The attacker secretly relays and potentially alters messages, making both parties believe they are communicating directly. Potential consequences include:- Hijacking authenticated sessions.
- Capturing login credentials and bypassing multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Stealing sensitive data, intellectual property, and private messages.
- Deploying malware for further exploitation.
Kerberoasting
Kerberoasting is an attack that exploits vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s Kerberos authentication protocol. The Kerberos protocol, named after the three-headed hound guarding the gates of Hades in Ancient Greek mythology, ensures secure authentication for computer networks. It facilitates mutual authentication between users and servers through a trusted third-party Key Distribution Center (KDC), which handles authentication and ticket-granting services. How Kerberos Authentication Works In a Kerberoasting attack, attackers target encrypted service tickets in Microsoft Active Directory (AD) environments to extract service account passwords. How it works:- A user requests access to a service, prompting the system to generate an encrypted service ticket.
- Attackers extract these tickets and attempt to crack the encryption to reveal the service account’s password.
- Once cracked, they gain unauthorized access to services, steal data, or move laterally within the network.
Silver Ticket Attack
A silver ticket attack involves forging Kerberos Ticket Granting Service (TGS) tickets to access specific services within an organization. Unlike other Kerberos-based attacks, this method bypasses the Key Distribution Center (KDC), making detection difficult. Impact of silver ticket attacks:- Attackers can impersonate users and escalate privileges.
- Unauthorized access to sensitive services.
- Potential transition to more damaging attacks, such as forging a golden ticket.
Golden Ticket Attack
A golden ticket attack is one of the most powerful Kerberos-based attacks. It allows cybercriminals to create forged Ticket-Granting Tickets to gain long-term access to an organization’s domain. Steps in this attack:- Attackers obtain the NTLM hash of the krbtgt account, a critical authentication credential stored in Active Directory.
- Using this hash, they forge TGTs that provide full domain access.
- These forged tickets allow attackers to maintain persistent access, even if legitimate user passwords are changed.
