Account takeover assaults have emerged as one of the vital persistent and damaging threats to cloud-based SaaS environments. But regardless of important investments in conventional safety measures, many organizations proceed to battle with stopping these assaults. A brand new report, “Why Account Takeover Assaults Nonetheless Succeed, and Why the Browser is Your Secret Weapon in Stopping Them” argues that the browser is the first battleground the place account takeover assaults unfold and, thus, the place they need to be neutralized. The report additionally supplies efficient steerage for mitigating the account takeover threat.
Under are a few of the key factors raised within the report:
The Position of the Browser in Account Takeovers
In keeping with the report, the SaaS kill chain takes benefit of the elemental parts which might be contained inside the browser. For account takeover, these embody:
- Executed Net Pages – Attackers can create phishing login pages or use MiTM over official internet pages to reap and entry credentials.
- Browser Extensions – Malicious extensions can entry and exfiltrate delicate information.
- Saved Credentials – Attackers goal to hijack the browser or exfiltrate its saved credentials to entry SaaS apps.
As soon as the person’s credentials are compromised, the attacker can login to the apps and function with impunity inside. This can be a totally different and far shorter kill chain in comparison with the on-premises kill chain, which can be why conventional safety measures fail to guard towards it.
Dissecting Account Takeover TTPs
The report then particulars the primary account takeover ways, methods and procedures (TTPs). It analyzes how they function, why conventional safety controls are ineffective in defending towards them, and the way a browser safety platform can mitigate the danger.
1. Phishing
The chance: Phishing assaults abuse the best way the browser executes the webpage. There are two primary sorts of phishing assaults: a malicious login web page or intercepting a official one to seize session tokens.
The safety failure: SSE options and firewalls can’t shield towards these assaults for the reason that malicious internet web page parts can’t be seen in community site visitors. Because of this, the phishing parts are in a position to enter the perimeter and the person’s endpoint.
The answer: A browser safety platform supplies visibility into the execution of internet pages and analyzes each executed part, detecting phishing actions like credential enter fields and MiTM redirection. Then, these parts are disabled inside the web page.
2. Malicious Browser Extensions
The chance: Malicious extensions exploit the excessive privileges enabled by customers to regulate the browser’s exercise and information, taking on saved credentials.
The safety failure: EDRs and EPPs usually have implicit belief in browser processes, making extensions a safety blind spot.
The answer: A browser safety platform supplies visibility and threat evaluation of all extensions and mechanically disables malicious ones.
3. Authentication and Entry through a Login Web page
The chance: As soon as the attacker obtains credentials, they will entry the focused SaaS app.
The safety failure: IdPs battle to distinguish between malicious and bonafide customers and MFA options are sometimes not absolutely carried out and adopted.
The answer: A browser safety platform screens all saved credentials within the browser, integrates with the IdP to behave as a further authentication issue, and enforces entry from the browser to forestall entry by means of compromised credentials.
What’s Subsequent for Safety Choice Makers
The browser has grow to be a vital assault floor for enterprises, and account takeover assaults exemplify its threat and the necessity to adapt the organizational safety strategy. LayerX has recognized {that a} browser safety answer is the important thing part in that shift, countering present assault methods that may pressure attackers to reevaluate their steps. Learn the complete report .
