What Is Password Spraying? How to Protect Against It

Cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to bypass security measures, and one technique is password spray attacks. Attackers slip past traditional defenses by using weak and commonly used passwords.

Password spray attacks pose a serious security risk, especially in industries like tech and finance where sensitive data and financial transactions are at stake.

Recognizing how these attacks work and implementing effective prevention strategies is necessary for keeping your systems secure. Here’s a guide to what password spraying is and how to avoid it.

What Is Password Spraying in Cybersecurity?

Password spraying is a cyberattack technique that exploits weak password policies and user habits. Instead of repeatedly guessing passwords for a single account, attackers attempt to access multiple accounts using the same commonly used passwords. This method helps them evade protections that trigger lockouts after too many failed attempts on one account.

This is effective because many users still rely on predictable passwords or default credentials, making it easier for attackers to gain access. If your organization uses single sign-on (SSO) or cloud-based applications, you’re particularly vulnerable—just one compromised account can serve as a gateway to multiple systems.

Password spray attacks can also be an entry point for more advanced cyberthreats, including remote code execution, where attackers gain deeper access to compromised environments.

How Does a Password Spraying Attack Work?

Hackers follow an organized approach to maximize their chances of success while minimizing detection. First, they use open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques to gather a list of valid usernames. This can involve scraping company websites, mining LinkedIn for employee profiles, and scanning past data breaches to cross-reference leaked credentials with corporate domains.

Attackers also generate usernames by analyzing email naming conventions, such as firstname.lastname@company.com, or by testing common variations through automated tools. In some cases, misconfigured cloud storage, publicly available employee directories, or exposed internal portals give attackers an even larger pool of potential targets. If you don’t restrict access to these resources, you make it easier for attackers to compile large-scale username lists.

Once they have a list of usernames, attackers attempt to log in across multiple accounts using a handful of widely used passwords, such as "123456," "password," "qwerty," "Companyname123!," or seasonal variations like "Spring2025." By spacing out login attempts and rotating through different passwords, they can evade detection for prolonged periods.

The Effects of Password Spraying

A successful password spraying attack can have wide-ranging consequences for a business. Attackers who gain access to a system can execute malicious activities such as exfiltrating sensitive data, disrupting operations, or escalating privileges to infiltrate the network further. Regulatory penalties and legal liabilities may result, especially in industries handling sensitive data, such as finance and government sectors.

Beyond financial harm, these attacks can slow or halt day-to-day business operations. Attackers may hijack accounts to send fraudulent emails, manipulate transactions, or use compromised systems as a foothold for more advanced cyberthreats like ransomware. Additionally, compromised credentials can fuel credential stuffing attacks, where attackers test stolen passwords across multiple services. This increases the risk of further breaches.

In some cases, attackers may exploit hardcoded secrets or source code leaks to expand their access. If developers store credentials within source code repositories, attackers can use exposed secrets to move laterally, compromise cloud environments, or gain persistent access to internal systems. Security teams should be aware of the costs of source code leaks and take proactive steps to prevent exposure.

The reputational impact can be just as damaging. Customers and business partners expect strong security measures. A publicized breach can erode trust and cause clients to take their business elsewhere.

Password Spraying and Brute-Force Attacks

While password spraying is often categorized as a brute-force attack, it differs significantly from traditional methods. Standard brute-force attacks involve rapidly guessing multiple passwords for a single account, triggering defenses like account lockouts.

Password spraying, on the other hand, spreads login attempts across multiple accounts using a small set of common passwords. With this approach, attackers can remain undetected longer since they avoid repeated failures on one account.

Although both methods rely on trial and error, password spraying is a type of brute-force attack because it systematically tests credentials at scale without raising immediate red flags.

How to Defend Against and Prevent Password Spraying Attacks

Attackers often take advantage of human error and outdated authentication mechanisms, so teams must implement proactive measures to close these gaps. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), monitor for suspicious login attempts, and minimize publicly available information that attackers can use to compile username lists.

Here are some more ways to defend against password spraying attacks:

• Enforce strong password policies: Require employees to use complex, unique passwords resistant to common attacks. Passphrases are often more secure than simple passwords, so encourage their use.
• Enable MFA: Strengthen authentication by requiring additional verification beyond just a password, making it significantly harder for attackers to gain access.
• Monitor and limit failed login attempts: Identify suspicious login activity by detecting repeated failed login attempts across multiple accounts and triggering appropriate security measures.
• Use adaptive authentication: Risk-based authentication evaluates login patterns, device behavior, and geolocation to detect anomalies and block suspicious access attempts.
• Secure privileged accounts: Apply stricter security controls to admin and high-value accounts, such as additional MFA layers and restricted access policies.
• Harden cloud and remote access security: Strengthen access controls for cloud-based applications and remote environments by enforcing VPN restrictions, logging security events, and implementing identity verification mechanisms.

Protect Against Password Spraying With Legit Security

Password spray attacks are a persistent and evolving threat, but security teams can take decisive action to defend against them. Implementing strong authentication measures, proactive monitoring, and strict access controls can significantly reduce the risk of an attack.

But managing these security measures effectively requires visibility, automation, and real-time threat detection. Legit Security provides you with the tools you need. By continuously monitoring authentication activity and enforcing security best practices, Legit Security helps you stay ahead of evolving threats. Request a demo today.