OAT-007 Credential Cracking

This is an automated threat. To view all automated threats, please see the Automated Threat Category page. The OWASP Automated Threat Handbook - Wed Applications (, print), an output of the OWASP Automated Threats to Web Applications Project, provides a fuller guide to each threat, detection methods and countermeasures. The helps to correctly identify the automated threat.

OWASP Automated Threat (OAT) Identity Number
OAT-007

Threat Event Name
Credential Cracking

Summary Defining Characteristics
Identify valid login credentials by trying different values for usernames and/or passwords.

Description
Brute force, dictionary (word list) and guessing attacks used against authentication processes of the application to identify valid account credentials. This may utilise common usernames or passwords, or involve initial username evaluation.

The use of stolen credential sets (paired username and passwords) to authenticate at one or more services is OAT-008 Credential Stuffing.

Other Names and Examples
Brute-force attacks against sign-in; Brute forcing log-in credentials; Brute-force password cracking; Cracking login credentials; Password brute-forcing; Password cracking; Reverse brute force attack; Username cracking; Username enumeration

CAPEC Category / Attack Pattern IDs

 * 16 Dictionary-based Password Attack
 * 49 Password Brute Forcing
 * 70 Try Common(default) Usernames and Passwords
 * 112 Brute Force

CWE Base / Class / Variant IDs

 * 307 Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
 * 799 Improper Control of Interaction Frequency
 * 837 Improper Enforcement of a Single, Unique Action

WASC Threat IDs

 * 11 Brute Force
 * 21 Insufficient Anti-Automation
 * Abuse of Functionality

OWASP Attack Category / Attack IDs

 * Abuse of Functionality
 * Brute Force Attack