As more and more organizations adopt Office 365 for their email and productivity needs, the risk of security breaches and attacks also increases. One attack type that has recently gained attention is the Office 365 MFA (multi-factor authentication) compromise.

MFA is a security measure that requires users to provide two or more authentication factors to gain access to their accounts. This can include a password, a security code sent to a mobile phone, or a biometric factor such as a fingerprint or facial recognition. While MFA can provide an additional layer of security, attackers have found ways to bypass it in Office 365.

Protecting User Credentials 

One common method of compromising MFA in Office 365 is through the use of stolen credentials. If an attacker gains access to a user’s login credentials, they can use them to log in to the user’s account and access their emails and other sensitive information. Even if the user has MFA enabled, the attacker can use the stolen credentials to bypass the additional authentication factor and gain access to the account.

MFA Phishing Attacks

Another way that attackers can bypass MFA in Office 365 is through the use of phishing attacks. In a phishing attack, the attacker sends the user a fake login page or email that looks legitimate but is actually controlled by the attacker. The user is tricked into entering their login credentials, which the attacker can then use to gain access to their account.

To protect against MFA compromise attacks in Office 365, it is important to take a few steps:

1. Enable MFA for all users: This may seem obvious, but many organizations need to enable MFA for all their users. By enabling MFA for all users, you can add an additional layer of security to your organization’s accounts.
2. Educate users about phishing attacks: Phishing attacks are one of the most common ways attackers compromise MFA in Office 365. To protect against these attacks, it is important to educate your users about the risks of phishing and how to recognize and avoid it.
3. Use strong and unique passwords: Stolen credentials are often the starting point for MFA compromise attacks. By using strong and unique passwords, you can make it more difficult for attackers to gain access to your organization’s accounts.
4. Monitor and review access logs: By regularly monitoring and reviewing access logs, you can identify any suspicious activity and take action to protect your organization’s accounts.

Conclusion

Overall, the Office 365 MFA compromise attacks seriously threaten organizations that use this popular productivity suite. By taking the steps outlined above, you can protect your organization against these attacks and keep your sensitive information safe. 

Learn more about how you can thwart identity-based attacks and see in more detail how CCO can help detect these kinds of attacks.