The Top Threat For 2025
As we step into 2025 there are many threats that demand our attention. You can make a strong argument for an array of different threats and vulnerabilities as being the most severe or important to address. But mathematically, one threat took the cake as the most severe of 2024, and has earned our attention as the top threat for organizations to address in 2025; stolen and compromised credentials.
From large-scale data breaches like the one at Snowflake that affected over 100 organizations, to targeted attacks against smaller companies, adversaries leveraged weak or exposed credentials to infiltrate organizations. In fact, this threat accounted for 15% of data-breaches according to IBM’s 2024 Data Breach Report, meaning that 1 in 6 breaches resulted from this singular threat.
However, this challenge comes with a silver lining—it’s a solvable problem. By focusing on a few key steps, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of credential-based attacks and strengthen their overall security posture for 2025.
How Attackers Use Stolen and Compromised Credentials
Stolen and compromised credentials provide attackers with easy access to critical systems without the need for complex exploits or sophisticated tools. Once inside, attackers can escalate privileges, move laterally across networks, and exfiltrate sensitive data—all without raising nearly as many red flags as other methods.
This threat is fueled by multiple factors: the widespread reuse of passwords, poor credential hygiene, and the increasing availability of stolen credentials on dark web marketplaces all exacerbate the problem. Attackers don’t need to break down the front door when organizations leave it unlocked.
Real-World Breaches Attributed to Stolen Credentials
The pervasive threat of compromised credentials was starkly highlighted by several breaches in 2024, many of them stemming from the Snowflake breach:
These incidents underscore the critical need for robust credential management and security practices to safeguard against unauthorized access and data breaches.
Where Do Stolen Credentials Come From?
Stolen credentials don’t appear out of thin air; they are often the byproduct of a variety of malicious activities and vulnerabilities across the digital landscape. Understanding the three most common sources of stolen credentials is key to preventing their misuse and strengthening overall cybersecurity defenses.
Phishing Attacks: Phishing remains one of the most prevalent methods for stealing credentials. Cybercriminals use deceptive emails, fake login pages, or social engineering tactics to trick employees into providing usernames and passwords which they then use to takeover accounts. Phishing-as-a-Service platforms have made these attacks even more accessible, enabling even inexperienced hackers to launch convincing campaigns.
Data Breaches: Large-scale data breaches are another major source of stolen credentials. When organizations fail to secure their databases, attackers can gain access to millions of usernames and passwords, often in plaintext. These credentials are then sold on dark web marketplaces or distributed in underground forums, making them readily available to other cybercriminals.
Malware and Keyloggers: Infostealer malware and keyloggers silently capture login credentials from infected devices. These tools can be deployed through phishing emails, malicious downloads, or compromised websites, allowing attackers to collect a steady stream of sensitive information.
By understanding these sources, organizations can implement targeted defenses to reduce the risk of credential theft. Phishing awareness training, malware protection, and dark web monitoring are just a few of the proactive steps that can stop stolen credentials before they become a threat.
Remediate Credentials at the Source
To combat the pervasive threat of stolen credentials, organizations must adopt a layered defense strategy that addresses the root causes of phishing attacks, data breaches, and malware.
To address phishing attacks, you can implement training programs that teach employees to recognize suspicious emails and requests, and run regular phishing simulations to reinforce awareness. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) also adds a vital layer of security, ensuring stolen credentials alone are insufficient for unauthorized access.
To mitigate the risk of a data-breach that will leak credentials that can be used in further attacks, you can take several steps like encrypting sensitive data, conducting regular audits to identify vulnerabilities, and maintaining a tested incident response plan. Meanwhile, malware and keyloggers require advanced endpoint protection solutions and diligent software updates to prevent exploitation.
Lastly, an essential component of this strategy is a dark web solution to address credentials that have already been leaked. We would like to recommend that you look into our very own Dark Web Analysis solution, which does exactly that. By continuously scanning dark web forums and breach databases, we identify compromised credentials tied to your organization. Validated findings are delivered through our platform, Command Center, enabling swift remediation such as password resets, account lockdowns, and enhanced security policies.
Additional Follow-Up Measures to Secure Credentials
After you have stopped the bleeding of credentials, and implemented a solution to identify credentials that have already been leaked, there are several additional steps you can take to enhance your security posture against this threat. Here are several recommendations to minimize the chance of credentials being successfully used to breach your organization.
Adopting passwordless solutions, such as biometrics or FIDO2 keys, can eliminate the reliance on traditional credentials. These methods are inherently resistant to credential theft, offering a more secure and user-friendly alternative.
Establish a policy to regularly rotate passwords for privileged accounts, such as admin or service accounts, and audit their usage. Use Privileged Access Management (PAM) tools to enforce policies, monitor activity, and detect unauthorized access to critical systems.
Utilize conditional access policies to limit login attempts based on factors like device type, location, or login behavior. For example, block access from unrecognized devices or locations unless additional verification is completed.
Tackling credential-based attacks requires a holistic approach, combining proactive solutions like our own Dark Web Analysis offering with best practices for securing and managing access. Together, these steps can help organizations build a resilient defense against one of the most pervasive threats in cybersecurity.
As 2025 begins, the urgency to address stolen and compromised credentials has never been greater. These threats remain a favored attack vector because they exploit the simplest and most overlooked vulnerabilities in an organization’s security posture. However, the solution is equally straightforward: proactive measures like our Dark Web Analysis offering, combined with robust credential management practices, can effectively neutralize these risks.
