What is a significant risk associated with "credential stuffing"?

Credential stuffing is a significant risk because it exploits the common practice among users of reusing the same credentials across multiple online services. When an attacker obtains a list of username and password combinations—often through data breaches—they can automate login attempts across various platforms. This means that if a user has reused their credentials on different sites, the attacker can quickly gain access to multiple user accounts simultaneously, leading to unauthorized transactions, data breaches, or identity theft.

The method relies on the assumption that many users have weak security practices, making this approach particularly effective. The consequence of compromised accounts can vary widely depending on the services involved, ranging from financial fraud to the unauthorized sharing of private data.

While other risks like denial of service attacks and unauthorized access to network devices are significant security concerns, they do not directly describe the core issue of credential stuffing. Similarly, while data loss can occur as a result of unauthorized access or other breaches, it is not the primary focus of how credential stuffing operates. Thus, the primary risk associated with credential stuffing is the compromise of multiple user accounts at once, highlighting the urgent need for improved password policies and user education regarding password management.