Cyberdudebivash

Introduction

Authentication is the front door of security. If attackers can bypass or exploit weaknesses in identification and authentication mechanisms, they gain direct access to sensitive systems, data, and admin privileges.

OWASP lists Identification & Authentication Failures (previously “Broken Authentication”) as one of the most dangerous risks in web applications. At CyberDudeBivash, we consider it a primary attack vector because weak logins, flawed session handling, and insufficient identity validation fuel account takeovers and large-scale breaches.

 Common Causes of Authentication Failures

1. Weak Password Policies
   • Short, predictable, or reused passwords.
2. Credential Stuffing Attacks
   • Attackers reuse breached username/password combos.
3. Lack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
   • Reliance on password-only logins.
4. Session Management Flaws
   • Session IDs not rotated after login.
   • Predictable or non-expiring session tokens.
5. Improper Identity Validation
   • Weak recovery flows (password reset without proper verification).
6. Exposed Credentials
   • Secrets in source code, logs, or GitHub repositories.

 Real-World Impact

• Account Takeovers (ATO) → Credential stuffing + brute force lead to hijacked accounts.
• Privilege Escalation → Exploiting weak session handling to access admin functions.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC) → Weak logins lead to fraudulent transactions.
• Compliance Violations → GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA penalties.

 Detection & Threat Hunting

Indicators of Authentication Exploits

• Multiple failed logins from the same IP.
• Impossible travel logins (e.g., logging in from India → 2 minutes later from USA).
• Abnormal session duration (tokens valid far too long).

Threat Hunting Query (SIEM Example)

index=auth_logs
| where failed_logins > 5 OR geo_anomaly = true
| stats count by src_ip, username

 Defense & Best Practices

1. Strong Authentication Policies
   • Enforce 12+ character passwords with complexity.
   • Block known breached credentials (NIST guidelines).
2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
   • Mandatory for all privileged and high-value accounts.
3. Secure Session Management
   • Rotate session tokens post-login.
   • Set short expiration with re-authentication for sensitive actions.
   • Store tokens securely (HTTPOnly, Secure flags).
4. Rate Limiting & Lockouts
   • Throttle failed login attempts.
   • Implement CAPTCHA after repeated failures.
5. Zero Trust Identity
   • Enforce continuous authentication and device verification.
6. Dark Web Monitoring
   • Monitor leaked credentials and force resets.

 MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

• T1078 – Valid Accounts (using stolen credentials).
• T1110 – Brute Force (password spraying and credential stuffing).
• T1556 – Modify Authentication Process (session hijacking).

 Lessons Learned

• Identification & Authentication Failures are entry points for attackers.
• MFA + strong session management drastically reduce risk.
• Continuous monitoring and zero trust identity enforcement are the future of access security.

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