credentialreplay

Credential replay is a type of cyberattack where an attacker intercepts valid user credentials, such as usernames and passwords, and then reuses them to gain unauthorized access to a system or service. This attack exploits the trust placed in the authentication system. Once an attacker obtains these credentials, they can log in as the legitimate user, potentially accessing sensitive data or performing malicious actions. The effectiveness of credential replay relies on the credentials remaining valid and the target system not having robust measures to detect or prevent repeated logins from different or suspicious locations.

This attack vector is often a consequence of other security breaches. For instance, if user credentials are stolen through phishing, malware, or data breaches from one service, attackers may attempt to "replay" these credentials on other platforms, assuming users often reuse passwords across multiple accounts. This highlights the importance of strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication. Defense mechanisms against credential replay include monitoring login attempts for suspicious patterns, implementing rate limiting to restrict the number of login attempts, and employing session management techniques that invalidate credentials after a certain period or upon detecting unusual activity.