What are Identity-Based Attacks?
Identity-based attacks are a category of cyber threats that target user identities—such as usernames, passwords, authentication tokens, or access credentials—in order to gain unauthorized access to systems, networks, or data. Instead of exploiting system vulnerabilities or launching brute force attacks, threat actors in identity-based attacks focus on stealing, abusing, or impersonating legitimate user credentials. This makes them particularly dangerous and difficult to detect, because the malicious activity often appears to be coming from a trusted user within the organization.
These attacks often begin with social engineering techniques like phishing, spear phishing, or business email compromise (BEC), where attackers trick users into revealing login information. In some cases, attackers use malware to harvest credentials, or they may buy stolen credentials on the dark web. Once inside, they can move laterally within the network, escalate privileges, exfiltrate data, or deploy ransomware—all under the guise of a legitimate user.
Identity-based attacks have become increasingly common due to the shift toward remote work, cloud adoption, and hybrid IT environments. These trends have expanded the attack surface, giving cybercriminals more opportunities to compromise identity credentials outside the traditional perimeter. In fact, according to many cybersecurity studies, a significant percentage of breaches now involve some form of identity misuse.
One reason identity-based attacks are so effective is that many organizations rely heavily on usernames and passwords as their primary form of authentication. Even with stronger measures like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA),attackers have developed tactics such as MFA fatigue attacks or token hijacking to bypass these defenses. Once they gain access, attackers often spend time performing reconnaissance, identifying high-value targets or sensitive data, and then executing more sophisticated exploits.
Unlike traditional attacks that can be blocked by antivirus software or firewalls, identity-based attacks require a different approach. Detection relies on behavioral analysis, anomaly detection, and identity threat detection and response (ITDR) tools that can flag suspicious user activity. Prevention requires a strong identity and access management (IAM) strategy, regular audits, least privilege principles, and ongoing user education.
Understanding identity-based attacks is critical in today’s threat landscape. As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, organizations must shift their security focus toward protecting identities—not just infrastructure—to stay resilient against modern attacks. Identity is the new perimeter, and defending it is essential to any robust cybersecurity strategy.
Common Types of Identity-Based Attacks
There are several common types of identity-based attacks, each exploiting different aspects of user identity to gain unauthorized access or compromise systems. These attacks vary in sophistication, but they all share one thing in common: they rely on abusing legitimate credentials or impersonating trusted users to bypass traditional security defenses. Understanding these attack types is essential for building effective prevention and detection strategies.
One of the most prevalent forms is phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals send deceptive emails or messages that appear to come from a legitimate source, such as a bank, employer, or service provider. The goal is to trick the user into clicking a malicious link or entering their credentials into a fake login page. More targeted versions of this tactic—like spear phishing—focus on specific individuals within an organization, often using personalized details to increase the likelihood of success.
Credential stuffing is another widespread identity-based attack. In this method, attackers use large lists of stolen usernames and passwords—often acquired from previous data breaches—and try them across multiple sites, hoping that users have reused the same credentials. Because many people reuse passwords across platforms, this tactic can be surprisingly effective at compromising multiple accounts.
Pass-the-hash attacks are more advanced and typically used in Windows environments. In these attacks, hackers extract hashed credentials from a compromised machine and use them to authenticate on other systems without ever needing to crack the original password. This enables lateral movement within a network and access to other machines, all while avoiding detection.
MFA fatigue attacks have become increasingly common as more organizations implement multi-factor authentication. In this type of attack, the cybercriminal triggers repeated MFA requests to a user’s device, hoping the user will eventually approve one out of annoyance or confusion. Once approved, the attacker gains access even though MFA was in place.
Insider threats also fall under the umbrella of identity-based attacks. In these cases, the attacker is already an authorized user—such as an employee, contractor, or partner—who abuses their access for malicious purposes. These threats are especially difficult to detect because the user appears legitimate on the surface.
Each of these attack types highlights the importance of identity protection in cybersecurity. As attackers increasingly exploit the human element and credential-based access, organizations must move beyond perimeter defenses and focus on securing identities, enforcing least privilege, monitoring user behavior, and adopting Zero Trust principles.
Why Identity-Based Attacks Are on the Rise
Identity-based attacks are on the rise due to a combination of evolving technologies, shifts in workplace models, and the growing sophistication of cybercriminal tactics. As organizations adopt more digital tools and move toward hybrid and remote environments, the traditional network perimeter has all but disappeared. This shift has made identity the new security perimeter, turning user credentials into high-value targets for attackers looking to gain access without setting off traditional security alarms.
One major driver of identity-based attacks is the widespread use of cloud services and SaaS platforms. These systems often require users to log in from anywhere, at any time, using a username and password. While convenient, this flexibility also creates more opportunities for credentials to be phished, stolen, or reused across platforms. With so many access points outside of the corporate firewall, it’s easier than ever for attackers to exploit identity-related weaknesses.
Another contributing factor is poor password hygiene. Many users still reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts, or rely on weak, easy-to-guess combinations. When a data breach occurs and login credentials are exposed, attackers often test those credentials across multiple services in a tactic known as credential stuffing. If users haven’t changed their passwords or are reusing them, attackers can gain access to several accounts using the same stolen data.
The rise in remote work has also fueled identity-based threats. Employees now log in from personal devices, home networks, or public Wi-Fi, often without the same level of endpoint protection or network monitoring that would be in place in an office. This has expanded the attack surface and given threat actors more opportunities to exploit identity and access vulnerabilities.
In addition, attackers have become better at social engineering. They create convincing phishing emails, fake login pages, and even use deepfake technology to impersonate executives or trusted contacts. These social engineering tactics are designed to trick users into giving up their credentials willingly—often without realizing it until it’s too late.
Lastly, many organizations still lack strong identity and access management (IAM) policies. Without proper controls such as multi-factor authentication, least privilege access, and identity behavior monitoring, it’s easier for attackers to exploit credentials and move laterally within the network undetected.
As identity becomes the most critical element of access control in today’s digital environment, the frequency and severity of identity-based attacks will continue to grow. To stay secure, organizations must treat identity as a primary security layer and implement modern defenses designed to protect it at every level.
How Zero Trust Helps Prevent Identity-Based Threats
Zero Trust is one of the most effective security frameworks for preventing identity-based threats because it operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Unlike traditional security models that assume users inside the network are trustworthy, Zero Trust treats every user, device, and application as potentially compromised—regardless of location or role. This mindset shift is critical in defending against identity-based attacks, which often rely on stolen or misused credentials to move undetected within an organization’s environment.
In a Zero Trust architecture, access to systems and data is not granted simply because a user has the correct username and password. Instead, every access request is evaluated in real time based on multiple factors, such as user identity, device health, geolocation, time of day, and behavior patterns. This makes it far more difficult for attackers to succeed using compromised credentials, because logging in requires more than just having the right password.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) plays a core role in Zero Trust by requiring users to verify their identity through two or more methods before being granted access. Even if a cybercriminal manages to steal a password, they would still need the second authentication factor—like a one-time code or biometric verification—which adds a critical layer of protection.
Zero Trust also enforces least privilege access, meaning users are only given access to the systems and data they need to do their jobs—nothing more. If an attacker compromises an identity, their ability to move laterally or access sensitive resources is significantly limited. This containment of access reduces the potential damage of any breach and makes identity-based attacks easier to detect and mitigate.
Another powerful aspect of Zero Trust is continuous monitoring. Rather than a one-time check at login, user activity is monitored throughout the session. If unusual behavior is detected—such as accessing resources at odd hours, using a different device, or downloading large volumes of data—automated systems can flag the activity or revoke access immediately. This real-time risk assessment helps stop attackers who may have gained a foothold using legitimate credentials.
By treating identity as a dynamic and continuously verified component of access control, Zero Trust closes the gaps that identity-based threats often exploit. It replaces assumptions with validation, limits the scope of access, and adds behavioral context to every decision. In a world where identities are under constant attack, Zero Trust is not just a best practice—it’s a necessity.
