%201.svg)
HIPAA Compliance Checklist for 2025
Cybersecurity professionals often warn that the weakest link in any system isn’t the firewall or the encryption, it’s the password. Despite advancements in identity security, weak and reused passwords continue to be exploited in new and dangerous ways.
One of the most common techniques fueling this problem today is password spraying. Unlike brute force attacks that hammer a single account with endless guesses, password spraying flips the script, trying a handful of common passwords across thousands of accounts until one works.
And the scale is staggering. According to The Hacker News in 2025, attackers recently targeted over 80,000 Microsoft Entra ID accounts in a single password spraying campaign, using automated tools to slip past basic defenses.
In this blog, you’ll learn what is password spraying, how attackers use it to break into accounts, the risks it poses, and actionable steps to prevent it. We’ll also explore how modern security solutions, like CloudEagle.ai, can protect organizations before damage occurs.
TL;DR
- Password spraying attacks exploit weak, common passwords across many accounts, making them hard to detect.
- Unlike brute force, password spraying avoids account lockouts by testing a few guesses on multiple users.
- Risks include data breaches, compliance failures, and financial loss if IAM controls are weak.
- Defenses like MFA, strong password policies, and just-in-time access help mitigate attacks.
- CloudEagle.ai automates IAM, strengthens SaaS security, and prevents password spraying risks.
What is Password Spraying?
At its core, password spraying is a cyberattack method where attackers attempt to log into many different accounts using a small set of commonly used passwords. Instead of bombarding one account and triggering lockouts, attackers “spray” these passwords across multiple accounts in low-frequency attempts.
To put it simply, if brute force is like a battering ram against one door, a password spraying attack is like quietly testing a few master keys across an entire neighborhood. This makes detection harder and success rates surprisingly high.
If you’ve ever wondered, “what is password spray?”, the answer lies here: it’s a large-scale, systematic attempt to gain unauthorized access by exploiting human laziness in password creation. People often reuse simple passwords like Welcome123 or Password1, and attackers rely on this predictability.
The password spraying meaning in security terms refers to a stealthy, distributed credential attack designed to evade account lockout policies while still compromising multiple accounts at once.
What are the Risks of Password Spraying?
The biggest risks of password spraying attacks include unauthorized access to sensitive data, financial losses, reputational damage, and exposure to advanced threats like ransomware or credential stuffing.
Once attackers gain control of accounts, they can steal personal or financial information, disrupt operations, or use the breach as a foothold for larger, more sophisticated cyberattacks.
Compromising Multiple Accounts With Minimal Effort
Attackers don’t need sophisticated tools to launch a password spraying attack. With just a list of usernames and a handful of common passwords, they can compromise dozens or even hundreds of accounts in minutes.
Key risks include:
- Wide impact from a few attempts: A single password spraying attack can affect entire departments.
- Low technical skill required: Even novice hackers can execute a password spray using publicly available scripts.
- High return on effort: A small investment of time often results in access to valuable accounts.
This low-effort, high-reward nature makes password spraying appealing to cybercriminal groups worldwide.
Evading Traditional Security Monitoring Systems
Traditional security systems focus on spotting repeated failed logins against one account. Password spraying attacks avoid this by spreading attempts across many accounts with long gaps between tries.
Key risks include:
- Bypassing lockout thresholds: Systems designed to stop brute force won’t catch a slow password spraying attack.
- Stealthy intrusion: Low-frequency attempts blend in with normal login failures.
- Delayed detection: By the time a password spraying attempt is noticed, attackers may already have access.
This makes password spraying meaning more dangerous; it’s not just about guessing passwords, it’s about staying undetected while doing so.
Leading to Large-Scale Data Breaches
Once attackers succeed with password spraying, the consequences can be catastrophic. Compromised accounts open doors to corporate networks, sensitive databases, and critical communication channels.
Key risks include:
- Privilege escalation: Attackers use one compromised account to move laterally and gain higher access.
- Data theft: Intellectual property, financial records, or customer data can be exfiltrated.
- Ransomware deployment: Credentials gained through a password spraying attack often serve as entry points for ransomware.
- Supply chain exposure: Access to one company can be used to attack its partners.
A recent study found that 30% of global data breaches are caused by weak passwords, with poor password practices contributing to 81% of company breaches.
Damaging Brand Reputation and Customer Trust
The technical damage is only part of the story. When news of a password spraying attack becomes public, organizations also suffer reputational harm that can take years to recover from.
Key risks include:
- Customer distrust: Users lose confidence in a company’s ability to protect their data.
- Regulatory penalties: Not ensuring compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA can result in fines.
- Stock value impact: Publicly traded companies often see their share price drop after breaches.
- Loss of partnerships: Vendors and partners may sever ties after repeated security failures.
Ultimately, a single password spraying attack can erode years of brand building and customer loyalty in just days.
How Password Spraying Attacks Work?
Now that you know about password spraying, let’s break down exactly how attackers execute it. Unlike brute force, this attack is methodical, patient, and designed to slip under the radar.
Step 1: Attackers Choose a List of Common Passwords
Cybercriminals begin with a dictionary of weak, predictable passwords, things like 123456, Password!, or Qwerty2024. These aren’t chosen randomly; they often come from leaked databases of past breaches, making them highly effective starting points.
Key details:
- Reused passwords are prime targets: If users recycle old passwords, a password spraying attack is more likely to succeed.
- Attackers use automation: Scripts and tools cycle through thousands of common phrases effortlessly.
- Lists evolve constantly: Each new breach adds fresh weak credentials to attacker databases.
Step 2: They Target Many Accounts at Once
Instead of focusing on a single account, attackers “spray” the same password across multiple accounts simultaneously. This shotgun approach greatly increases their odds of success while avoiding suspicion.
Key details:
- Mass targeting: Hundreds or thousands of accounts can be tested in parallel.
- Exploiting scale: The more accounts in a system, the more likely at least one will fall.
- Enterprise risk: Larger organizations with many employees face greater exposure to password spraying attacks.
Step 3: Lockout Policies Are Avoided by Low-Frequency Attempts
Most organizations set lockout policies to protect against brute force. But password spraying bypasses these defenses by spacing out attempts over time. For example, only one attempt per hour per account.
Key details:
- Staying under thresholds: A slow drip of attempts avoids triggering lockouts.
- Stealth tactics: Failed login attempts blend in with normal user mistakes.
- Harder detection: Security teams often miss these subtle, distributed login attempts.
This stealth factor is a big part of the password spraying meaning; attackers aren’t trying to be fast, they’re trying to be invisible.
Step 4: Attackers Escalate Privileges After Gaining Entry
Once an account is compromised, attackers rarely stop there. They often explore the environment, escalate privileges, and expand control across systems. This unchecked access can lead to privilege creep.
Key details:
- Privilege escalation: A regular user account can lead to administrator access.
- Lateral movement: Attackers jump between systems using the compromised account.
- Persistence mechanisms: Backdoors or new accounts may be created to maintain access.
- Secondary attacks: Successful password spraying attacks often serve as a gateway to ransomware, data theft, or financial fraud.
5 Ways to Prevent Password Spray Attacks
The good news? With the right defenses, organizations can stay ahead of attackers. Each of these strategies directly addresses the weaknesses that password spraying attacks exploit.
“Credential stuffing has become massive this year ... The only way you will not reuse passwords is using a password manager. Then two-factor authentication.”
— Troy Hunt, cybersecurity expert
1. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication for All Users
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an essential layer of security beyond the password. Even if attackers succeed with password spraying, they can’t log in without the second factor.
Best practices include:
- Use app-based authenticators (e.g., Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator) instead of SMS when possible.
- Apply MFA universally, not just to admins, but to every employee.
- Leverage adaptive MFA that adjusts requirements based on login context, location, or device.
A 2023 study analyzing Microsoft Azure Active Directory users found that over 99.99% of accounts with MFA enabled remained secure, even if credentials were leaked. That’s a 99.22% overall risk reduction, and 98.56% protection even in the case of breached credentials
2. Require Strong and Unique Password Policies
Weak and reused passwords are the foundation of password spraying success. Enforcing strict password policies reduces attacker success rates dramatically.
Strong password rules should include:
- Minimum of 12–14 characters.
- A combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special symbols.
- Restrictions on common passwords like Welcome123 or Password1.
- Mandatory password rotation for high-privileged accounts.
By removing predictable choices, you shut down the very tactic that makes a password spraying attack viable.
3. Monitor Login Attempts and Unusual Access Patterns
Detecting password spraying requires visibility. Organizations should actively monitor authentication logs for anomalies and set alerts for suspicious behavior.
What to monitor:
- Multiple failed logins across different accounts with the same password.
- Logins from unusual geolocations or IP addresses.
- Repeated low-frequency attempts that don’t trigger lockouts but form a pattern.
- Off-hours activity from employees who typically log in during business hours.
These indicators often reveal a password spraying attack in progress before full compromise occurs.
4. Educate Employees About Credential Security
Employees are often the first line of defense against password spraying attacks. Without awareness, they may reuse weak passwords or fall victim to phishing schemes that hand over credentials to attackers.
Key training areas:
- Password hygiene: Encourage unique, strong passwords for every account.
- Password managers: Teach staff to safely generate and store credentials.
- Phishing awareness: Show employees how attackers may combine password spraying with phishing.
- Reporting culture: Encourage workers to report suspicious login notifications immediately.
A well-informed workforce significantly reduces the risks of a password spray attempt succeeding.
5. Leverage Automated Identity Security Tools
Manual monitoring isn’t enough anymore. Automated identity and access management (IAM) tools, such as CloudEagle.ai, provide proactive defenses against password spraying attacks.
Capabilities of advanced IAM tools:
- Automated access reviews to quickly remove unused accounts.
- Anomaly detection to spot unusual login patterns.
- Centralized policy enforcement for password strength and MFA requirements.
- Real-time alerts when a potential password spraying attack is detected.
These automated systems reduce IT overhead while ensuring that no weak point is left for attackers to exploit.
How CloudEagle.ai Can Improve Identity and Access Management in the First Place?
With the rise of SaaS applications, companies are more exposed to threats like password spraying attacks than ever before. In fact, attackers often use password spray techniques to test common credentials across multiple accounts, making Identity and Access Management (IAM) the first line of defense.
CloudEagle.ai helps businesses fight back by simplifying IAM with automation, role-based policies, and real-time monitoring. Instead of leaving vulnerabilities open to a password spraying attack, it centralizes access management, reducing the risk of compromised credentials while improving SaaS security.
Automated Provisioning and Deprovisioning
Manually granting and revoking access is slow and error-prone, leaving gaps that attackers can exploit with a password spraying attack. CloudEagle automates user provisioning and deprovisioning to keep your SaaS stack secure.
- Suggests relevant apps automatically when a new user joins
- Grants device-specific access during onboarding
- Revokes access instantly when a user leaves or a device is retired
- Streamlines employee onboarding and offboarding
Remediant’s Example: Alice Park shared how CloudEagle.ai transformed their onboarding and offboarding, ensuring accounts were provisioned and removed securely.
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
Privileged accounts are high-value targets in a password spray attack. CloudEagle ensures these rights are carefully controlled and temporary, reducing misuse and risk.
- Restricts privileged access to specific roles
- Enforces time-based permissions
- Allows temporary access during upgrades or tasks
- Automatically expires permissions after use
Real-Time Monitoring and AI-Driven Threat Detection
SaaS apps are always connected, making them prime targets for password spraying attacks. CloudEagle uses AI-driven analytics to spot risks before they escalate.
- Monitors real-time activity across SaaS apps
- Detects anomalous behavior like unexpected data transfers
- Identifies unauthorized device commands
- Alerts teams when suspicious activity occurs
App Access Requests and Reviews for SaaS Tools
Managing app requests manually can lead to excessive permissions, which attackers exploit using password spraying. CloudEagle makes this process structured and secure.
- Self-service portal for access requests
- Admins can review and approve requests by role
- Temporary access granted with expiry dates
- Regular access reviews to keep environments clean
Dynamic and Just-in-Time Access Controls
Persistent access creates long-term risks that can be abused in a password spraying attack. CloudEagle enforces flexible, time-bound rules to minimize exposure.
- Role-based access control (RBAC) tailored to SaaS environments
- Access restricted by device type, location, or time of day
- Just-in-Time access ensures permissions exist only when needed
- Automatic expiry once tasks or projects are complete
In A Nutshell
Password spraying is one of the most common ways attackers break into enterprise SaaS apps. By trying a few weak passwords across many accounts, they avoid lockouts and gain easy entry. This makes it critical to adopt stronger authentication, monitoring, and access controls.
Organizations that rely only on passwords remain exposed to these attacks. Proactive defense through MFA, strict IAM policies, and continuous reviews can block attackers before damage occurs. Security today isn’t about waiting; it’s about preventing breaches before they start.
CloudEagle.ai helps you automate provisioning, manage privileged access, and apply dynamic, just-in-time controls to stop attackers from exploiting weak entry points. With real-time monitoring and AI-driven detection, you stay ahead of password spraying threats.
Book a free demo because securing SaaS access should never be guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between password spraying and dictionary attack?
A password spraying attack tries one common password across many accounts, while a dictionary attack targets one account with a long list of words or phrases. - What is the difference between stuffing and password spraying?
Credential stuffing uses leaked username-password pairs, while password spraying attack tests common weak passwords across multiple accounts to avoid lockouts. - How do password leaks happen?
Password leaks occur through data breaches, phishing, malware, or poor storage. Once leaked, these credentials are often used in attacks like password spraying. - What are the four types of password attacks?
The main password attacks include brute force, dictionary, credential stuffing, and password spraying attack methods. - What is the strongest password?
The strongest password is long, random, unique, and generated by a manager. This makes it nearly impossible for brute force or password spraying attacks to crack.
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
.png)
